The specific absorption rate (SAR) is a measure of the rate at which energy is absorbed by the human body when exposed to a radiofrequency (RF) electromagnetic field. It is expressed in watts per kilogram of body weight.
The Federal Communications Commission (FCC) in the United States has set a maximum SAR level of 1.6 watts per kilogram (W/kg) of body weight for exposure to RF fields emitted by mobile phones. The FCC limit is based on guidance from two federal agencies the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) and the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH).
The International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC) has classified RF fields as “possibly carcinogenic to humans” based on limited evidence of an increased risk for brain tumors in people who are exposed to RF fields.
More research is needed to better understand the potential health effects of exposure to RF fields from mobile phones.
What does SAR measure?
Answer: The specific absorption rate (SAR) is a measure of the rate of absorption of energy by the human body when exposed to a radio frequency (RF) electromagnetic field.
How is peak SAR measured?
Answer: Peak SAR is measured in watts per kilogram (W/kg) and is the highest value of SAR measured in any 10 gram of tissue.
How is SAR averaged over the whole body?
Answer: The Federal Communications Commission (FCC) requires that the SAR be averaged over the entire body of an adult (for cell phones operating at frequencies between 300 MHz and 3 GHz)
How is the whole-body averaged SAR calculated for cell phones?
Answer: The whole-body averaged SAR for cell phones can be calculated by adding (SAR) for all body parts and dividing that by the number of body parts
What are the federal limits for whole-body SAR for cell phones operating in the United States?
Answer: The FCC has established two limits for whole-body exposure to radiofrequency (RF) electromagnetic fields: The SAR limit for cell phones used by the public is 1.
6 watts per kilogram (W/kg)
How does the FCC limit compare to other countries?
Answer: In the European Union the limit is 2 W/kg and in Canada and China the limit is 1.
6 W/kg.
How do I know if a cell phone is in compliance with the FCC’s SAR limit?
Answer: The FCC requires that cell phones sold in the United States have a label that states the phone’s maximum SAR level.
What is the maximum SAR level for any cell phone?
Answer: The FCC requires that the maximum SAR level for any cell phone must not exceed 1.
6 watts per kilogram.
What is the maximum SAR for a cell phone in the United States?
Answer: The FCC requires that the maximum SAR for any cell phone sold in the United States must not exceed 1.
6 watts per kilogram.
Do all cell phones have the same maximum SAR level?
Answer: No.
The maximum SAR level for a cell phone depends on the phone’s frequency and its transmission power.
What factors affect a cell phone’s maximum SAR level?
Answer: The maximum SAR level for a cell phone depends on the phone’s frequency and its transmission power.
How can I find out the maximum SAR level for my cell phone?
Answer: The FCC requires that cell phones sold in the United States have a label that states the phone’s maximum SAR level.
I’ve heard that some cell phones have a “headset mode.
” What is this and how does it affect the maximum SAR level?
Answer: When a cell phone is in “headset mode” the maximum SAR level for the phone is reduced.
I’ve heard that some cell phone manufacturers make phones that operate at lower power levels.
Does this mean that the phones have a lower maximum SAR level?
Answer: The maximum SAR level for a cell phone is determined by the phone’s frequency and its transmission power.
Some cell phone manufacturers make phones that operate at lower power levels but this does not necessarily mean that the phones have a lower maximum SAR level.
What is the relationship between a cell phone’s maximum SAR level and its battery life?
Answer: The maximum SAR level for a cell phone has no effect on the phone’s battery life.
