Scientific study of emissions from a cell phone

Science is at work trying to determine if emissions from a cell phone poses a risk to human health. A comprehensive study of just how safe cell phone emissions are is underway but will take five years to complete.

The question is not whether emissions from a cell phone emit a type of radiation. To transmit a signal, a cell phone emits low levels of electromagnetic energy. The amount can vary from phone to phone and even changes depending on how the cell phone is used. For example, cell phone emissions increase slightly when the phone antenna is down.

Government agencies aren’t waiting for conclusive scientific evidence. They have set standards limiting emissions from cell phones. The Federal Communications Commission tests the emission level of every cell phone model sold in the US to see if it falls below a body tissue absorption rate of 1.6 watts per kilogram. You can check the emission rate of your cell phone model on the FCC web site.

In 2001, the European Commission set standards limiting emissions from all cell phones sold within the European Union. Standards limit the emission of thermal radiation to 2 watts per kilogram of human tissue. At the time the emission standards were enacted, all cell phones sold in Europe were well within the limit.

In a study released in 2004, researchers at the University of Sweden found brain damage in rats exposed to microwave radiation emitted from GSM cell phones. Still, there is no conclusive body of evidence linking cell phone emissions to health problems in humans.

As one scientist noted, it’s impossible to prove that something is 100 percent safe. It’s only possible to prove that it’s not.

Related Items

Also See: cheap cell phone plans.

Author Notes:

Wendy Whittaker contributes and publishes news editorial to http://www.1st-in-cell-phones.com. A cellular phone industry resource featuring articles, comparisons and reviews of cellular phone and service plans.

	Emission From Cell Phones
Scientific study of emissions from a cell phone