Which Smartphones Emit The Most Radiation?

Motorola Droid, BlackBerry Bold 9700, LG Chocolate Touch and HTC Nexus One are pushing the limits of radiofrequency radiation safety limits set by the Federal Communications Commission, according to a new report from the Environmental Working Group (EWG).

The EWG says the ads and good ratings for those smartphones do not reveal they are some of the highest radiation emitters among the phones currently on the market.

The report found there are three new phones that emit significantly less radiation including Motorola Brute, Pantech Impact and Samsung Mythic.

"A number of health agencies around the world advise people to reduce exposures to cell phone radiation, driven by recent studies raising questions about the safety of this radiation, particularly for children," said Jane Houlihan, senior vice president for research at Environmental Working Group.

"That's why it's essential for consumers to have radiation output information before they purchase phones for themselves and their families."

EWG has updated its online consumer guide to cell phone radiation, launched last year, to cover the latest mobile devices. The guide contains information on more than 1,000 cell phones and smartphones available in the U.S.


 

 

Google Tries To Save You From Swine Flu

The media frenzy over swine flu may have died down a little since earlier this year; it's no longer a top headline on every other news site, at least.  But people remain extremely concerned about it (anyone care to guess how many tons of hand sanitizer have been sold?), and Google's trying to help out by pointing them towards flu shots.

A post on the Official Google Blog announced this afternoon, "We've been working with [the U.S. Department for Health and Human Services], the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and state and local health agencies to gather information on flu vaccine locations across the country, particularly for the H1N1 flu vaccine . . . .  At the moment we have data for locations of flu vaccine directly from 20 states and counting."

The post then added, "We are also continuing to add information from chain pharmacies and other providers in all 50 states; today, you'll find results from chains such as Walgreens, CVS and PDX participants, such as Kmart, Duane Reade, WinnDixie and Giant Eagle."

The new feature seems to work quite well.  If you intend to follow through on its suggestions and receive a shot, just call ahead to play it safe.  Unless you need to buy some more hand sanitizer, anyway, that is, or perhaps want to pick up a few surgical masks from the corner market.

Have You Read This?

> Google India Closes Office Due To Swine Flu

> YouTube Highlights Global Leaders' Response To Swine Flu

> Swine Flu Fears Overrun Web

Online Tool Rates Cell Phone Radiation

The Environmental Working Group (EWG) has put together an online consumer guide that rates more than 1,000 cell phones based on the levels of radiation they emit.

The EWG says the list is aimed at helping consumers make better decisions about which   cell phones to buy. The free online tool offers information on each phone's radiofrequency emissions, allowing users to compare different models.

"We would like to be able to say that cell phones are safe," said Olga Naidenko, Ph.D., EWG Senior Scientist and lead author of the study.

"But we can't. The most recent science, while not conclusive, raises serious issues about the cancer risk of cell phone use that must be addressed through further research.  In the meantime, consumers can take steps to reduce exposure."

According to the CTIA Wireless Association, there were 270.3 million wireless subscribers in the U.S. as of December 2008, a 30 percent increase in three years. Worldwide 60 percent of the population or 4 billion people subscribe to wireless services.

Health agencies in six nations have issued warnings to limit cell phone use, including Switzerland, Germany, Israel, France, the U.K. and Finland. The warnings said children were particularly at risk because their skulls are thinner and less able to shield the brain from radiation.

EWG says the current cell phone radiation standards, set by the FCC and based mainly on 1992 cell phone industry recommendations, are outdated and allow 20 times more radiation to penetrate the head than the rest of the body.

EWG is asking the FCC to upgrade its standards and examine the newest scientific evidence and to consider the increasing cell phone use by children.

"The first cell phones were marketed to adults," Naidenko said. "But today, children are just as likely to own a cell phone as a video game, baseball or bicycle."