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proves that wireless phone usage can lead to cancer or a variety of other problems,
including headaches, dizziness or memory loss.”
This publication is available at http://www.fcc.gov/oet/rfsafety or through the FCC at
(888) 225-5322 or (888) CALL-FCC.
What does “SAR” mean?
In 1996, the FCC, working with the FDA, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency,
and other agencies, established RF exposure safety guidelines for wireless phones in
the United States. Before a wireless phone model is available for sale to the public, it
must be tested by the manufacturer and certified to the FCC that it does not exceed
limits established by the FCC. One of these limits is expressed as a Specific Absorption
Rate, or “SAR.” SAR is a measure of the rate of absorption of RF energy in the body.
Tests for SAR are conducted with the phone transmitting at its highest power level in all
tested frequency bands. Since 1996, the FCC has required that the SAR of handheld
wireless phones not exceed 1.6 watts per kilogram, averaged over one gram of tissue.
Although the SAR is determined at the highest power level, the actual SAR value
of a wireless phone while operating can be less than the reported SAR value. This
is because the SAR value may vary from call to call, depending on factors such as
proximity to a cell site, the proximity of the phone to the body while in use, and the use
of hands-free devices.
For more information about SARs, see the FCC’s OET Bulletins 56 and 65 at http://
www.fcc.gov/Bureaus/Engineering_Technology/Documents/bulletins or visit the Cellular
Telecommunications Industry Association website at http://www.ctia.org/consumer_info/
index.cfm/AID/10371. You may also wish to contact the manufacturer of your phone.
Can I minimize my RF exposure?
If you are concerned about RF, there are several simple steps you can take to minimize
your RF exposure. You can, of course, reduce your talk time. You can place more
distance between your body and the source of the RF, as the exposure level drops off
dramatically with distance. The FDA/FCC website states that “hands-free kits can be
used with wireless phones for convenience and comfort. These systems reduce the
For Your Safety