Best and worst cellphones by radiation output levels -- how does yours stack up?

[Are_grits_groceries]

http://www.ewg.org/cellphoneradiation/Get-a-Safer-Phone

There is more info at the site about PDAs and Smartphones in addition to other models of cellphones.

Just thought I'd add some more joy to your Monday.

[lysosome]

1. Meh, I go bluetooth. Which do you want next to your brain pan, the thing with a 30' range...

or the phone with a 3 mile range?

[armyowalgreens]

2. I own a Sanyo Katana II. The bottom of the low output list.

[tabbycat31]

10. ditto

[Fumesucker]

3. On any conversation longer than a minute or two I use speakerphone or headphnes anyway..

Since I use my cell as an mp3 player a lot I have the headphones/microphone plugged in most of the time.

I have a hard time hearing the other person clearly with only one ear, it really doesn't matter how loud it is, hearing with only one ear is unnatural (in the sense it doesn't normally happen in nature).

ETA: My Blackberry Pearl Flip is slightly less than halfway down the full list, for what it's worth..

[Buzz Clik]

5. My Treo has a horrible rating, but I also use the hands-free. End of problem.

[Lochloosa]

9. Do you keep your phone on your hip? You know, next to your....

just asking. :evilgrin:

[Fumesucker]

12. I don't know about you..

But my ... are not on my hip. :rofl:

[Lochloosa]

13. Close enough

:toast:

[Fumesucker]

15. Inverse square law..

Twice as far away is one fourth the power, three times is one eighth and so on..

I guess if you had *really* narrow hips...

And besides, having ... cancer let Lance Armstrong win the Tour De France a whole buncha times. :evilgrin:

:toast: back at ya'

[Cetacea]

4. I see that the I phone is way up there. Thanks for the link!

[Ian David]

6. How Dangerous Is Cell Phone Radiation?

Skeptoid #117
September 02, 2008
Podcast transcript
Audio: http://skeptoid.com/audio/skeptoid-4117.mp3

<snip>

Let's take a closer look at exactly what kind of threat is being reported. A recent article on CNN.com quotes Dr. Debra Davis, Director of the University of Pittsburgh's Center for Environmental Oncology, saying that "You're just roasting your bone marrow" and asking "Do you really want to play Russian roulette with your head?" The article goes on to give five recommendations for limiting your exposure to cell phone radiation: Using a headset, using the speakerphone, getting a different phone, and so on. CNN followed up with another article with more quotes from Dr. Davis, this time saying that children are especially at risk because their brains are still developing, so they should be allowed to use cell phones in emergencies only.

As the director of an oncology center, she must have all kinds of experience treating cancer patients, and since she's going on CNN to talk about cell phone risks she must have a lot of experience dealing with cancer caused by cell phones. Right? Well, you'd think, but apparently CNN is not quite that particular about their guests. Dr. Davis' Ph.D. is in "science studies", whatever that is, and she is neither a medical doctor nor does she have any specialization in physical sciences like radiation. Now, I'm not trying to disrespect Dr. Davis — she has a fine background loaded with experience and all sorts of publications and accolades in her field — but I do want to draw attention to the fact that when CNN brings a doctor onto television to talk about a health problem, you shouldn't take anything for granted. You're the one who assumed that she treats cancer patients and has seen harmful effects from cell phone radiation. The fact is that the only danger Dr. Davis actually cited was that "since cell phones have only been in widespread use for 10 years or so, the long-term effects of their radiation waves on the brain has yet to be determined." Neither she, nor CNN, cited a single case of harm being caused by a cell phone, nor did they present any theoretical arguments indicating any plausible danger.

<snip>

Another reason the belief persists is that it is constantly being promoted by companies selling quack devices claimed to protect consumers from any potential threat. Spreading fear is a major marketing angle that they employ. Cardo Systems, a maker of cell phone headset, broadly promoted as the best way to minimize danger of radiation, famously released a set of hoax videos on YouTube showing people popping popcorn by setting some kernels on a table between several activated cell phones. When nailed for the hoax by CNN, Cardo's CEO claimed that the videos were meant only as a joke and that the thought of scaring people into thinking that cell phones could pop popcorn never entered their minds. You can judge the credibility of that statement for yourself.


<snip>


So far, the science that's been done pretty much supports the default skeptical position. When we hear a claim like "cell phone radiation causes cancer", we assume the null hypothesis until evidence is presented that supports the claim. And to date, all the good evidence supports the null hypothesis, not the claim. Maybe tomorrow things will change, and we'll find that cell phones are harmful, or that 60-cycle electrical outlets are harmful, or that traveling faster than 30 miles an hour is harmful. An open skeptical mind is open to any good evidence supporting any claim. But for now, I'm going to continue enjoying the usefulness of my iPhone, and be damn glad there's a tower in my neighborhood.



More:
http://skeptoid.com/episodes/4117

[SoCalDem]

18. Since the damage may not "reveal" itself for years (decades?)

maybe people need to just weigh the importance and decide for themselves.

"Hey whatchdoin", "I'm at the store in the checkout line", or "Boy traffic's bad today" or "what do you want for dinner?" may not be worth the risk..

but then we are a no-cellphone family :)

[Ian David]

19. Should I also weigh the risk of being trampled by unicorns? n/t

[truebrit71]

25. Of course..but only if they are being ridden by leprechauns...

...regular unicorns are perfectly safe...

[One_Life_To_Give]

7. They don't normally operate at full power

Cell phones typically dial back the RF power to extend battery life. So that high output Motorola Moto will looking like a low output Razor most of the time. Of course if your out in the wilderness/offshore where the Razor can't hit a tower but the Moto can, well then yes you will be exposed to higher RF and much shorter battery life.

[SidDithers]

8. So, the Samsung's emissions are minscule...

and the Blackberry's emissions are 4x miniscule?

Sid

[hayu_lol]

11. Gee Whiz...you mean we now have to...

put up with 2nd hand radiation.

Ban the cell phones now.

[sendero]

14. I would have to know the methodology..

.... of this study to put one ounce of credence in these numbers.

"Radiation" is the signal the phone transmits to the cell tower (antenna). It is adjusted constantly based on the phone's distance from the tower. The only way to perform such a study would be for phones to all be tested at numerous exact distances from the tower.

Basically, a phone generating more RF power is going to send a clearer signal to the tower. The game is to send a signal that is strong enough without wasting battery power on an overly strong signal.

The only valid thing a study like this could conclude would be that the phone is sending more RF than it needs to for a given distance.

[One_Life_To_Give]

20. Based solely on Published SAR

Manufacturers as required by regulation report SAR at maximum possible transmit power. No correction is made for what percentage of the time it actually has to b e at maximum power. Although one can deduce it from the amount of time that less powerfull transceivers(phones) are in dead zones while theirs works.

IOW the publisher doesn't know their ____ from their ____.

[SidDithers]

22. +1...

and all SAR values fall under FCC limits.

Sid

[nc4bo]

16. LG CU720. Maximum Rads: Unknown.

I guess ignorance is bliss? :scared:

Geez...

ETA: Sometimes I put my cellphone in my bra. I guess I should stop doing that.

[SoCalDem]

17. my phone is okay , I guess

[One_Life_To_Give]

21. Didn't you read the warnings about DTMF??

That stuff will kill ya.

Git yourself one of these

[Javaman]

23. What? I can't hear you, my ear just melted off. nt

[ecstatic]

24. My SO is always making fun of my simplistic phone choices...

but my phone is on the list of the best, and his phone is the 4th worst!

My take has always been--I'm fully wired at home and work--why do I also need my phone to have everything on it??!! :shrug: