WASHINGTON, D.C. Feb. 17, 2010 - Motorola's Droid, Blackberry Bold 9700, LG Chocolate Touch and HTC Nexus One by Google, hyped as the latest and greatest smart phones for the 2010 upgrade season, receive high marks from tech experts for performance and features.
The flashy ads and expert rating don't disclose that these new models are also some of the highest radiation emitters among the phones currently on the market. EWG has found that all four phones' emissions are pushing the edge of radiofrequency radiation safety limits set by the Federal Communications Commission (FCC). Recent studies suggest increased risk for brain tumors among people who have used cell phones for at least 10 years.
But 2010's offerings aren't all bad news. Three new phones - Motorola Brute, Pantech Impact and Samsung Mythic - emit significantly less radiation.
"A number of health agencies around the world advise people to reduce exposures to cell phone radiation, driven by recent studies raising questions about the safety of this radiation, particularly for children," said Jane Houlihan, senior vice president for research at Environmental Working Group. "That's why it's essential for consumers to have radiation output information before they purchase phones for themselves and their families."
EWG has updated its online consumer guide to cell phone radiation, launched last year, to cover the latest mobile devices. The guide contains information on more than 1,000 cell phones and smart phones available on the U.S. market.
The Federal Communications Commission sets maximum cell phone emissions output at 1.6 watts per kilogram of body weight, a measure known as the Specific Absorption Rate (SAR). A phone's SAR value expresses the amount of radio frequency energy absorbed by the body when using a mobile device. Manufacturers are required to provide their devices' SAR values to the FCC and sometimes disclose this number in technical documentation but often do not display the data where cell phones are sold.
Officials in the city of San Francisco and the state of California are considering laws to require SAR labeling at the point of sale.
EWG's update gives radiation data for new phones given top marks by CNET, PCMag.com, PC World and Consumer Reports. Technical experts at these publications rated phones for performance, usability, features and aesthetics but not radiation output.
Cell phones emit radiofrequency radiation when sending and receiving voice and text messages. Scientists around the world are conducting studies to address the outstanding questions on human health effects of radiofrequency radiation. In the meantime, EWG recommends that cell phone users buy phones with low emissions. EWG's website offers other tips so that cell phone users can minimize radiation exposure. Among them: use a headset or set the phone on speaker, hold the phone away from the head, don't store an active phone in a front pants pocket and text rather than talk.
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