Question 2: What is S.A.R.?

Answer: S.A.R. or Specific Absorption Rate of Radiation is used to measure the amount of radiation that the human body absorbs from any source, including cellular phones. The F.C.C. (Federal Communications Commission) sets limits as to what they deemed were safe levels of radiation from cell phones. In the beginning when analog phones were 800-900 MHZ of power, most of the cell phones manufactured met these safe guidelines. However as manufacturers raised the power of their phones up to 1800-2000MHZ and analog was replaced by digital, the majority of the cell phones now exceed the safe levels set by the F.C.C. In fact the manufacturers continue to lobby to have the levels raised, so they may keep increasing the power of the phones. The highest S. A. R. in the body is in the ear, thus the concern about excessive cell phone use and the strength of the signal.

Question 3: How is S.A.R. measured on a cell phone?

Answer: When a call is made or received there is a band of radiation from the antenna, half of which disappears into space. The remaining radiation is around the skull, face and ear area of the user and runs through the circuitry of the phone when transmitting the call. A dummy head is immersed in a gel-like solution similar to body fluid and a cell phone is attached to the ear. Readings are taken from the antenna to determine the S.A.R. strength which will vary from phone to phone and proximity to the closest signal tower.

Question 4: What is the difference between a Radio Wave and a Microwave?

Answer: Radio Waves are low levels of transmission power for signals to and from your phone. These non-ionizing frequencies of radiation are safe. However as signal strength grows from a few hundred MHZ of power to beyond 800 MHZ, the electro-magnetic spectrum increases and these waves become microwaves. For example, the older mobile house and office phones were a few hundred MHZ of radio waves but the farther you moved from the base, the weaker the signal became and you would lose the call or it would break up. Now mobile phones are 900MHZ to 2.4GIGS or more of power so you do not lose the calls as you travel from room to room or go outside, but your phone is now into Microwaves/infrared waves of radiating power.

Question 5: Is it true that radiation comes from the antenna?

Answer: Yes, as we explained in the S.A.R. question, there is a band of radiation around your head from the antenna half of which disappears into space. However the skull is hard and there are calcium deposits for some protection. The most vulnerable area for radiation is the soft tissue of the inner ear where most of the reports of tumors have been reported. And as we stated the highest incidence of S.A.R. in the body is in the ear. We have found no reports of tumors on the skull, chin, face or opposite side of the head, but mainly behind the ear where the phone is placed when receiving or transmitting a call.

Question 6: What is meant by the term NEAR-FIELD RADIATION?

Answer: Near-field refers to that portion of the radiation coming off the antenna that goes directly into the inner ear when you place the phone against your ear to make or receive a call. This portion of the radiation is considered the most dangerous to the user for two reasons: 1) As stated, the highest incidence of radiation in the body is in the ear and 2) most of the reports of tumors have been reported just behind the ear, thus any product that could effectively block that portion of radiation from entering the inner ear would be a valuable health tool.

Question 7: What about using a hands-free kit to keep the phone away from my head?

Answer: Hands-free kits are currently used for convenience, by law in some states while driving a vehicle and mostly by concerned cell phone users who want to keep the phone away from their head because of concern about radiation. However in studies and tests of many of the hands-free kits by scientists and consumer groups in Europe, they found that the wire from the ear piece acts as an aerial and actually increases the radiation by three times. Bluetooth headsets are equally dangerous as the signal from the phone carries radiation directly into the inner ear.

Question 8: Is there any proof that cell phones are dangerous?

Answer: The jury is still out on the long term effects of cell phone use, while in the meantime governments worldwide and health organizations like the World Health Organization continue to allocate millions of dollars towards on going research to determine the effects of cell phone usage. These organizations along with others are documenting more reports of brain tumors and increased cases of litigation against cell phone manufacturers.

Question 9: Are there any danger signals from excessive cell phone use?

Answer: Many users report symptoms like hot phones, headaches, fatigue, tingling sensations and even memory loss. Of course some phones are hotter than others. In a study of teens under 16 years of age, scientists in Europe reported short-term memory loss (up to 50 minutes) after using a cell phone.

Question 10: Should I be concerned about my teenager using a cell phone?

Answer: By all reports, you should be concerned especially for the younger adolescent child. Their brain tissues are still growing, their skull is half as thick as adults yet we see a growing use of cell phones worldwide by young teens.

Question 11: Are there any steps I can take to reduce the potential risk of cellular radiation?

Answer: Yes, first use a phone with a long antenna pointed away from the head. Every inch is important. Unfortunately we see manufacturers making phones with short stub antennas or the antenna inside the phone because the phone has more design style. If you must use a phone in the car, use a speaker phone so there is no contact between you and the phone. Cut out non-essential calls to reduce time spent on the phone. In particular replacing your existing mobile phones at home with cellular free long distance plans is not a good idea. You may save money but in the long run not save your health. There are shielding devices on the market that claim to block radiation. Applying one of these items can reduce radiation, but ask for valid testing from a recognized government sanctioned laboratory to back up the claims.

Question 12: What about products that attach to the phone or antenna that claim to shield radiation, do any of these items work? -

Answer: Most of these products are bogus, but research supports that two or three of these shields may actually do what they claim to do. Look or ask for valid testing of the product used on actual phones by a recognized testing authority. We found that items that attach to the antenna or base of the antenna claim to block radiation away (yet let the signal come in) do not work --- they can not do both. If they did block radiation, they would also block the signal and you could not communicate.

Question 13: What about antenna boosters that claim to increase your signal?

Answer: We have checked these items out through testing and personal usage. Our findings are that they are a simply, at best, a faux ornamnet---no more than a sticker that attaches on the side of the phone or inside the battery cover. In theory if they were to work, they would have to be "grounded", plus if they did work and increased reception, they would increase the radiation from your phone, thus be counter productive to your well being.

Question 14: If radiation shields are effective, why haven't the manufacturers put one in their phones?

Answer: For years the cell phone manufacturers have told us radiation levels of phones were so low it was similar to a hairdryer. And in the meantime they have been raising the power of their phones to give you better reception, thus increasing the radiation levels. As well they have told you that shields do not work, yet recent news reports uncovered patents by the manufacturers indicating that they are planning on putting a shield inside their phones. We expect that the results of recent liability law suits against the cell phone makers may change the future manufacturing standards.

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