What are the SAR values for Samsung’s new
smart phones?
What is the manufacturer's recommended minimum
body separation distance?
How should consumers use this information?
about cell phone use.
Also see: "Do iPhones emit more radiation than
Samsung Galaxy phones?"
Also see: "Do iPhones emit more radiation than
Samsung Galaxy phones?"
To reduce your exposure to microwave radiation:
- When communication is unnecessary, use Airplane mode.
- When using cellular, turn off Wi-Fi and Bluetooth.
- When using Wi-Fi, turn off cellular and Bluetooth.
- When phone is powered on, never keep phone next to your body, especially during a phone call.
- When communicating, use phone in speaker mode or a wired earpiece.
April 27, 2017
According to test reports filed with the Federal Communications Commission (FCC), the Specific Absorption Rate (SAR) for the Galaxy S8 for cellular transmission is 0.34 watts per kilogram (w/kg) at the head, and 0.93 w/kg when worn on the body. The WiFi hotspot SAR is 0.95 w/kg. The SAR for simultaneous transmission (cellular plus Wi-Fi) is 1.25 w/kg at the head, 1.39 w/kg when worn on the body, and 1.52 w/kg when used as a hotspot. (1)
For the Galaxy
S8 Plus, the SAR for cellular transmission is 0.27 w/kg at
the head, and 0.64 w/kg when worn on the body. The WiFi hotspot SAR is 0.79
w/kg. The SAR for simultaneous transmission (cellular plus Wi-Fi) is 1.40 w/kg
at the head, 1.16 w/kg when worn on the body, and 1.52 w/kg when used as a
hotspot. (2)
All SARs reported above are averaged over one gram of body tissue corresponding to the U.S. standard. The SARs may vary depending upon your specific cell phone carrier.
All SARs reported above are averaged over one gram of body tissue corresponding to the U.S. standard. The SARs may vary depending upon your specific cell phone carrier.
The minimum separation
distance for body-worn testing was 15 mm (about 0.6 of an inch). According to
the testing facility, "Device was tested using a fixed spacing for
body-worn accessory testing. A separation distance of 15 mm was considered
because the manufacturer has determined that there will be body-worn
accessories available in the marketplace for users to support this separation
distance.” (1, 2)
The SARs for the Apple iPhone
7 and iPhone 7 Plus were obtained at a separation
distance of 5 mm (about 0.2 of an inch) from the body so the body-worn SAR
values are not comparable to those reported for the Samsung phones. The iPhone
SAR values can be found in my
article on Apple Iphones.
The FCC ID numbers for the Galaxy S8 are A3L SMG950U, 950U1, and 950W, and for the S8 Plus they are A3L SMG955U, 955U1, and 955W. The SAR values for these smart phones can be found on the FCC website: https://www.fcc.gov/oet/ea/fccid.
What do the SAR values
mean to the consumer?
The legal limit for
the SAR in the U.S. is 1.60 w/kg (averaged over one gram of tissue).
The FCC requires that
all cell phone models be tested for their Specific Absorption Rate or SAR. The
SAR is a measure of the maximum amount of microwave radiation absorbed by the
head or the body. It is measured in a laboratory using an artificial model of a
large adult male with different fluids to simulate human tissue. The SAR, which
is measured in watts per kilogram, represents the maximum amount of energy
absorbed in any one gram of tissue in the test model. Phones sold in the U.S.
typically range in SAR values from about 0.20 w/kg up to the 1.60 legal limit.
(3, 4)
The SAR test, adopted
in 1996 by the FCC, was criticized by the U.S. Government Accountability Office
in 2012. The test does not reflect those who currently use cell phones, nor
does it correspond to the way people use them. Today many children are cell
phone users -- the young child’s brain absorbs twice the radiation as the
adult’s brain. Moreover, the artificial head does not contain any metal (e.g.,
dental fillings, earrings, or eyeglass frames) which could increase the
radiation absorption beyond the measured SAR in the laboratory. (5)
The FCC assumes that
consumers will carry their cell phones in a manufacturer-approved holder that
keeps the phone a minimum distance away from the body. However, most people do
not keep their phone in a cell phone holder. For the body-worn SAR test, the
FCC allows the manufacturer to choose the separation distance between the cell
phone and the test model as long as consumers are informed about the minimum
distance tested. However, few consumers are aware of the manufacturer’s
recommended minimum body separation distance from their cell phone because this
information is often difficult to find. Thus, most consumers are in the dark
about precautions they can take to keep their exposure to microwave radiation
below the legal limit. This prompted the city of Berkeley, California to adopt landmark legislation that requires cellphone retailers to inform their
customers about the manufacturer’s safety information.
To ensure that the
cell phone does not exceed the legal limit, consumers should never keep their
cell phone in their pockets or next to their skin. The cell phone is not tested directly
against the body because almost all cell phones would fail the SAR test as the
radiation absorption increases dramatically when the cell phone is close to the
body.
For a recent news story, the Canadian Broadcasting Corporation had the three most popular
smart phones tested next to the body. They found that the radiation absorbed increased three to four times, and that the SARs for all three phones exceeded the legal limit (for the U.S. and
Canada).
Is the legal limit
sufficient to protect the cell phone user’s health?
Federal policies in
the U.S. could lead the public to believe that all legally-marketed cell phones
are safe, and that a cell phone's SAR doesn't matter as long as it meets the
legal limit: 1.6 watts per kilogram. (3, 4)
However, the
Environmental Working Group and experts point out that the SAR only measures
the maximum microwave absorption from cell phone use that perfectly matches
laboratory conditions. The SAR is not a good indicator of one’s cumulative
microwave exposure under naturalistic conditions. The research evidence
suggests that how one uses the phone (e.g., hands-free) and one’s cell phone
carrier actually matters more than the phone’s SAR level. (4, 6, 7)
The SAR standard was
developed to protect users only from the acute effects of the heat generated by
microwave radiation (i.e., the thermal effect). (5) The SAR limit
does not protect users from the non-thermal effects caused by the cumulative
exposure over time to cell phone radiation.
Yet, thousands of laboratory
studies with animals and cell samples have found deleterious biologic effects
from short-term exposure to low intensity cell phone radiation, including
development of stress proteins, micronuclei, free radicals, DNA breakage, and
sperm damage. (8) Human studies have also found that brief exposure to cell
phone radiation alters brain activity and can open the blood-brain barrier
which could enable chemical toxins in the circulatory system to penetrate the
brain. (9)
Major studies with
humans have found increased cancer risk, including a three-fold increase in
brain cancer among those who used wireless phones (cell phones and cordless
phones) for 25 or more years. (10) Based upon this research, the World
Health Organization in 2011 declared radiofrequency radiation "possibly
carcinogenic" in humans (Group 2B). (11)
Other risks from cell
phone use include reproductive health damage and male infertility, and
neurological disorders (e.g., impaired cognitive functioning, headaches and
migraines, and ADHD [attention deficit/ hyperactivity disorder]) in children.
(12, 13)
Based upon the weight
of the evidence from several decades of research including thousands of
peer-reviewed published studies, many experts worldwide have signed
declarations calling upon government to adopt stronger radiation standards to
protect consumers from low intensity, non-thermal exposures from radiation
associated with wireless communications, and to alert consumers about how to
reduce their risk of harm. (14 -16) Recent evidence suggests that brain tumor
incidence is increasing in the U.S. and other countries and exposure to cell phone radiation may be
contributing to this increase. (17) More than 220 scientists who have
published peer-reviewed research on electromagnetic fields and biology or
health have signed a petition, the International EMF Scientist Appeal, calling for stronger regulation of wireless
radiation.
For tips on how to reduce exposure to wireless radiation, see "Some Tips to Reduce Your Exposure to Wireless Radiation". (18) In short, limit your use of the phone, keep the phone away from your body whenever it is powered on, use the phone hands-free, and turn off transmitters not in use (e.g., shut off Wi-Fi or use airplane mode).
For tips on how to reduce exposure to wireless radiation, see "Some Tips to Reduce Your Exposure to Wireless Radiation". (18) In short, limit your use of the phone, keep the phone away from your body whenever it is powered on, use the phone hands-free, and turn off transmitters not in use (e.g., shut off Wi-Fi or use airplane mode).
References
(1) PCTEST
Engineering Laboratory, Inc. SAR Evaluation Report. Samsung Electronics Co.,
Ltd. FCC ID: A3LSMG950U. Date of Testing: 12/22/2016 to 1/26/2017. https://fccid.io/document.php?id=3287924
(2) PCTEST Engineering
Laboratory, Inc. SAR Evaluation Report. Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd. FCC ID: A3LSMG955O.
Date of Testing: 1/2/2017 to 2/13/2017. https://fccid.io/document.php?id=3297691
(3) FCC. Specific
Absorption Rate (SAR) for Cellular Telephones. Undated. http://www.fcc.gov/encyclopedia/specific-absorption-rate-sar-cellular-telephones
(4) FCC. “Specific
Absorption Rate (SAR) For Cell Phones: What It Means For You.” Undated. http://www.fcc.gov/guides/specific-absorption-rate-sar-cell-phones-what-it-means-you
(5) Joel
Moskowitz. “"Comments on the 2012 GAO Report: 'Exposure and Testing
Requirements for Mobile Phones Should Be Reassessed'.:” http://www.saferemr.com/2013/01/commentary-gao-2012-report-on-mobile.html
(6) Wolchover N.
Radiation Risk: Are Some Cellphones More Dangerous Than Others? Life's Little
Mysteries. June 23, 2011. http://www.lifeslittlemysteries.com/1550-radiation-risk-some-cell-phones-more-dangerous-than-others.html
(7) Environmental Working Group. EWG’s Guide to Safer Cell Phone Use: Where is EWG's cell phone database? August 27 2013.
(7) Environmental Working Group. EWG’s Guide to Safer Cell Phone Use: Where is EWG's cell phone database? August 27 2013.
(8) Giuliani L.
Soffritti M. Non-thermal effects and mechanisms of interaction between
electromagnetic fields and living matter. ICEMS Monograph. Bologna, Italy:
National Institute for the Study and Control of Cancer. 2010. http://www.icems.eu/papers.htm
(9) Joel Moskowitz. “LTE
Cell Phone Radiation Affects Brain Activity in Cell Phone Users.” Sep 20,
2013. http://www.prlog.org/12215083
(10) Joel Moskowitz.
“Brain Cancer Risk Increases with the Amount of Wireless Phone Use:
Study. http://www.prlog.org/12216483
(11) Joel Moskowitz.
“Most Significant Government Health Report on Mobile Phone Radiation Ever
Published.” http://www.prlog.org/12125230
(12) Joel Moskowitz.
“Cell Phone Radiation, Pregnancy, and Sperm.” Nov 19, 2012. http://www.prlog.org/12026867
(13) Joel Moskowitz.
“Cell Phone Use and Prenatal Exposure to Cell Phone Radiation May Cause
Headaches in Children.“ http://www.prlog.org/12269207
(14) Joel Moskowitz.
“Part I: Why We Need Stronger Cell Phone Radiation Regulations--Key Testimony
Submitted to the FCC.” Aug 4, 2014. http://www.saferemr.com/2014/08/why-we-need-stronger-cell-phone.html
(15) Joel Moskowitz.
“Part II: Why We Need Stronger Cell Phone Radiation Regulations--Key Research
Papers Submitted to the FCC.” Aug 4, 2014. http://www.saferemr.com/2014/08/why-we-need-stronger-cell-phone_43.html
(16) Joel Moskowitz.
“Part III: Why We Need Stronger Cell Phone Radiation Regulations--98 Scientific
Experts Who Signed Resolutions.” Aug 4, 2014. http://www.saferemr.com/2014/08/why-we-need-stronger-cell-phone_4.html
(17) Joel Moskowitz. Brain Tumor Rates are Increasing in the U.S.: The Role of Cell Phone and Cordless Phone Use. http://bit.ly/risingtumors
(17) Joel Moskowitz. Brain Tumor Rates are Increasing in the U.S.: The Role of Cell Phone and Cordless Phone Use. http://bit.ly/risingtumors
(18) Joel Moskowitz. Some Tips to Reduce Your Exposure to Wireless Radiation (one page handout). Undated. http://bit.ly/saferemrtips3
