San Francisco considers displaying phone radiation levels next to price tag
If the San Francisco Department of the Environment gets its way, starting as soon as next month Bay Area residents might start noticing the radiation levels of cellphones displayed prominently next to their respective price at retail outlets. This is, of course, despite no definitive research that the handsets cause harm and the FCC’s insistence that the devices sold to consumers are safe. The proposal is being endorsed by Mayor Gavin Newsom, who as it’s noted is not about to stop using his iPhone anytime soon. Not to worry, Maine, you’ll still keep the top spot for most ridiculous cellphone warning label.
“The information exists, but not at the point of sale,” he said. “If we prevail, and I believe we will prevail, other cities will follow suit.”
The FCC, working with the U.S. Food and Drug Administration, has adopted limits for safe exposure to radiation, which are calculated in terms of a unit called the Specific Absorption Rate that signifies the amount of radio frequency energy a person absorbs into his or her body and brain when talking on a cell phone.
The FCC requires that cell phone manufacturers ensure their phones are at or below a SAR level of 1.6 watts per kilogram of body tissue to be legally sold in this country. Some phones emit as little as 0.2 watts per kilogram.
Newsom supports legislation to require that cell phone retailers display the SAR level next to each phone in a font at least as large as the price. Retailers would also have to provide information about what SAR values mean.
All types of stores selling phones would be affected. The Department of Public Health would monitor stores’ compliance and could levy fines.
The city’s environment commission is debating the legislation, though it would need approval at the Board of Supervisors to become law.
Other ideas being discussed at the commission are encouraging the school district to ban cell phone use in elementary schools because children are more susceptible to radiation and requiring that all cell phones be sold with a headset so radiation is farther away from the brain.
The Cellular Telecommunications and Internet Association, a trade group representing cell phone companies, hotly disputes the notion that cell phone radiation poses health concerns.
It points to the American Cancer Society’s findings that cell phones are “unlikely” to cause cancer and to the World Health Organization’s determination that cell phones aren’t a public health risk.
