Testing and Health Risks foe Cell-Phone Radiation

Potential Health Risks

In the late 1970s, concerns were raised that magnetic fields
from power lines were causing leukemia in children.
Subsequent epidemiological studies found no connection
between cancer and power lines. A more recent health scare
related to everyday technology is the potential for radiation
damage caused by cell phones. Studies on the issue continue
to contradict one another.

All cell phones emit some amount of electromagnetic radiation.
Given the close proximity of the phone to the head, it is
possible for the radiation to cause some sort of harm to the
118 million cell-phone users in the United States. What is
being debated in the scientific and political arenas is just
how much radiation is considered unsafe, and if there are any
potential long-term effects of cell-phone radiation exposure.

There are two types of electromagnetic radiation:

* Ionizing radiation - This type of radiation contains
enough electromagnetic energy to strip atoms and molecules
from the tissue and alter chemical reactions in the body.
Gamma rays and X-rays are two forms of ionizing radiation. We
know they cause damage, which is why we wear a lead vest when
X-rays are taken of our bodies.

* Non-ionizing radiation - Non-ionizing radiation is
typically safe. It causes some heating effect, but usually
not enough to cause any type of long-term damage to tissue.
Radio-frequency energy, visible light and microwave radiation
are considered non-ionizing.

On its Web site, the FDA states that "the available
scientific evidence does not demonstrate any adverse health
effects associated with the use of mobile phones." However,
that doesn't mean that the potential for harm doesn't exist.
Radiation can damage human tissue if it is exposed to high
levels of RF radiation, according to the FCC. RF radiation
has the ability to heat human tissue, much like the way
microwave ovens heat food. Damage to tissue can be caused by
exposure to RF radiation because the body is not equipped to
dissipate excessive amounts of heat. The eyes are
particularly vulnerable due to the lack of blood flow in that
area.

The added concern with non-ionizing radiation, the type of
radiation associated with cell phones, is that it could have
long-term effects. Although it may not immediately cause
damage to tissue, scientists are still unsure about whether
prolonged exposure could create problems. This is
an especially sensitive issue today, because more people are
using cell phones than ever before. In 1994, there were 16
million cell-phone users in the United States alone. As of
July 17, 2001, there were more than 118 million.

Here are a few illnesses and ailments that have potential
links to cell-phone radiation:

* Cancer
* Brain tumors
* Alzheimer's
* Parkinson's
* Fatigue
* Headaches

Studies have only muddled the issue. As with most
controversial topics, different studies have different
results. Some say that cell phones are linked to higher
occurrences of cancer and other ailments, while other studies
report that cell-phone users have no higher rate of cancer
than the population as a whole. No study to date has provided
conclusive evidence that cell phones can cause any of these
illnesses. However, there are ongoing studies that are
examining the issue more closely. See the links page at the
end of this article for more information on these studies.

At high levels, radio-frequency energy can rapidly heat
biological tissue and cause damage such as burns, according
to a recent report from the U.S. General Accounting Office
(GAO), a nonpartisan congressional agency that audits federal
programs. The report went on to state that mobile phones
operate at power levels well below the point at which such
heating effects would take place. The amount of radiation
emitted from the devices is actually minute, and the U.S.
federal government places limits on how much radiation a cell
phone can emit.

In the next section, we'll look into how cell-phone radiation
levels are tested.

Testing for Radiation

Every cell-phone model has to be tested and meet FCC
standards before it is allowed to be sold in the United
States. Testing is primarily done by the manufacturers
themselves, which creates some uncertainty about the testing
procedures, according to a GAO report.

The exposure limit set by the FCC for cell phones is based on
the overall heating effects of radio-frequency energy. The
exposure limit was established by the FCC in 1996. A year
later, the FCC published non-mandatory testing guidelines
that helped manufacturers comply with exposure limits. The
FCC still allows other testing techniques once an FCC review
of the procedures is completed.

Radiation levels are tested based on the specific absorption
rate (SAR), which is a way of measuring the amount of
radio-frequency energy that is absorbed by the human body. In
order to gain an FCC license, a phone's maximum SAR level
must be less than 1.6 watts per kilogram (W/kg). In 2000, the
Cellular Telecommunications & Internet Association (CTIA)
ordered cell-phone manufacturers to place labels on phones
disclosing radiation levels.

Testing techniques vary somewhat, but are generally pretty
standard. The GAO report "Research and Regulatory Efforts on
Mobile Phone Health Issues," published in May 2001, describes
how SAR levels are checked. Here is what the report described:

1. A mold shaped like a human head and torso is filled
with a fluid mixture that is designed to simulate the
electrical properties of human tissue.
2. The cell phone under review is placed on the outside of
the mold.
3. A probe attached to a computer-controlled mechanical
arm is inserted into the mixture at various locations.
4. The phone is made to transmit a signal at full power
while the probe is moved through the mixture.

During the test, the phone's antenna is extended and
retracted in order to check for any fluctuations in radiation
that the phone might demonstrate in different configurations.
The manufacturer is supposed to submit the highest SAR level
measured during these tests to the FCC. Phones are required
to test below 1.6 W/kg averaged over 1 gram of fluid.

To find the specific absorption rate of your phone, you can
visit this FCC Web site. Your phone should have an FCC
identification code. Type that code in the correct field and
the site should offer information on your device.

Due to the lack of any industry-wide testing standard, the
FCC must evaluate the individual procedures used by each
manufacturer in certifying the SAR level of each new phone,
according to the GAO report.

It's still unclear as to whether cell phones actually cause
any significant damage to the human body. Studies continue to
contradict one another on the issue. Additional studies may
shed some light on the true effects of cell-phone radiation,
but will likely only confuse consumers even further. In the
meantime, millions of cell-phone users take whatever risk may
be involved in using the devices.