The bMighty Blog -- Mobile

The evidence linking cellphone usage and brain tumors is sketchy but there's just enough to make worrywarts a little bit uncomfortable. Just to make things even more interesting, along comes a guide that lists which cellphones give off the most and least radiation.

Of course, we haven't even been using cellphones long enough to have some real answers, but in a previous post I noted that a number of medical professionals won't use cellphones next to their ears. (It's all about headsets.)

Now CNET published what they're calling a quick guide to Cellphone radiation levels that focuses on the specific absorption rate, or SAR, of a cellphone, which is " a way of measuring the quantity of radiofrequency (RF) energy that is absorbed by the body."

Despite all their qualifications, it is still a little scary.

CNET writes: " It's important to note that in publishing this list are we in no way implying that cell phone use is or isn't harmful to your health. While research abounds and some tests have shown that cell phone radiofrequency (RF) could accelerate cancer in laboratory animals, the studies have not been replicated. Cell phones can affect internal pacemakers, but there is not conclusive or demonstrated evidence that they cause adverse health affects in humans. Conversely, there is not conclusive or demonstrated evidence that they don't cause adverse health affects in humans. So, in short, the jury is still out, research is ongoing, and we will continue to monitor its results."

In her blog for The New York Times, Tara Parker-Pope notes that the FDA "says there’s not enough information to determine conclusively whether cellphones are safe or unsafe."
But she still checked out her iPhone which was listed under "other" brands. It has a SAR number of 0.974 W/kg.

My Samsung puts out 1.46 W/kg. The lowest-radiation cellphones are the LG KG800 which puts out 0.135 W/kg and the Motorola Razr V3x, which puts out 0.14 W/kg.

It might be time to go shopping. Just in case.

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