S.F. Passes Cellphone Radiation Law

[sharingwisdom]

San Francisco Passes Cellphone Radiation Law
June 16, 2010, New York Times
https://www.nytimes.com/2010/06/16/us/16cell.html
Imposing roughly the same cautionary standards for cellphones as for fatty food or sugary soda, this city — never shy about its opinions — voted on [June 15] to require all retailers to display the amount of radiation each phone emits. The law — believed to be the first of its kind in the nation — came ... amid opposition from the wireless telephone industry, which views the labeling ordinance as a potential business-killing precedent. But the administration of Gavin Newsom, the city’s ... mayor ... called the vote a major victory for cell phone shoppers’ right to know. Under the law, retailers will be required to post materials — in at least 11-point type — next to phones, listing their specific absorption rate, which is the amount of radio waves absorbed into the cellphone user’s body tissue. These so-called SAR rates can vary from phone to phone, but all phones sold in the United States must have a SAR rate no greater than 1.6 watts per kilogram, according to the Federal Communications Commission, which regulates the $190 billion wireless industry.

[Braggi]

This work proves that the San Francisco budget is balanced, all potholes are filled, all homeless people have successfully moved into permanent homes and all traffic safety issues have been solved.

It also proves the San Francisco Council has no clue how to read scientific papers or understand scientific principles. It's another sad day for government of the people.

-Jeff

[Zeno Swijtink]

This work proves that the San Francisco budget is balanced, all potholes are filled, all homeless people have successfully moved into permanent homes and all traffic safety issues have been solved.

It also proves the San Francisco Council has no clue how to read scientific papers or understand scientific principles. It's another sad day for government of the people.

-Jeff

If the FCC thinks SAR rates are relevant what is unscientific about requiring that this information be very easy to find?

[Braggi]

If the FCC thinks SAR rates are relevant what is unscientific about requiring that this information be very easy to find?

What does relevant mean Zeno? What business is it of a city or county to require this information if the federal and state governments don't?

Is San Francisco also going to explain what the numbers mean to an individual's health? The answer is no because so far cell phone "radiation" has been shown to reduce cancer rates in the best study to date.

We have more important things to worry about and traffic safety in San Francisco is a real issue that could be addressed, but not while the Council is fooling around with this nonsense.

-Jeff

[Zeno Swijtink]

Relevant means that the FCC has set a maximum SAR (Specific Absorption Rate) of 1.6 W/kg, averaged over a volume of 1 gram of tissue, for the head.

Manufacturers apparently think this is relevant since SAR data for specific mobile phones can be found on their websites.

Even you seem to think it's relevant since you recommend the use of cellphones to reduce the risk of cancer!!!

What does relevant mean Zeno? What business is it of a city or county to require this information if the federal and state governments don't?

Is San Francisco also going to explain what the numbers mean to an individual's health? The answer is no because so far cell phone "radiation" has been shown to reduce cancer rates in the best study to date.

We have more important things to worry about and traffic safety in San Francisco is a real issue that could be addressed, but not while the Council is fooling around with this nonsense.

-Jeff

[Zeno Swijtink]

What business is it of a city or county to require this information if the federal and state governments don't?

(...)

-Jeff

The Feds do require this information, but don't make it easy for you and me to get this information.

From the FCC's website (emphasis mine):

https://www.fcc.gov/cgb/sar/

Working closely with federal health and safety agencies, such as the Food and Drug Administration (FDA), the FCC has adopted limits for safe exposure to radiofrequency (RF) energy. These limits are given in terms of a unit referred to as the Specific Absorption Rate (SAR), which is a measure of the amount of radio frequency energy absorbed by the body when using a mobile phone. The FCC requires cell phone manufacturers to ensure that their phones comply with these objective limits for safe exposure. Any cell phone at or below these SAR levels (that is, any phone legally sold in the U.S.) is a "safe" phone, as measured by these standards. The FCC limit for public exposure from cellular telephones is an SAR level of 1.6 watts per kilogram (1.6 W/kg).*

(...)

FCC SAR Database - You can usually find the SAR value of a cellular phone through the FCC database if you can get the FCC ID number from the instrument.

The FCC ID number is usually shown somewhere on the case of the phone or device. In many cases, you will have to remove the battery pack to find the number. Once you have the number proceed as follows. Go to the following Web address: https://www.fcc.gov/oet/fccid.

Once you are there you will see instructions for inserting the FCC ID number. Enter the FCC ID number (in two parts as indicated: "Grantee Code" is comprised of the first three characters, the "Equipment Product Code" is the remainder of the FCC ID). Then click on "Start Search." The grant of equipment authorization for this particular ID number should appear. The highest SAR values reported in the equipment certification test data are usually included in the comments section of the grant of equipment certification.

Under the new SF law "retailers will be required to post materials — in at least 11-point type — next to phones, listing their specific absorption rate."

Why do you defend the Feds for their halfhearted dealing with SAR?? It's sad to me that the City had to step in to finish this regulation and make the information clear and accessible.

[Braggi]

... Even you seem to think it's relevant since you recommend the use of cellphones to reduce the risk of cancer!!!

I'm sure the phones with the greatest radiation levels work the best. :-)

Zeno, San Francisco has a lot of problems. They should be working on them. This isn't one of them.

-Jeff