Smartphone Radiation:A controversy

We live in a world of radiation.From radiation by natural elements like Uranium towards the most common artificial Smartphone radiation.Before calculation of radiation and intensity,lets take a look at how radiation emits.The Smartphone works by the signals coming from the mobile tower carrying data.But the Smartphone also needs some radiation blaster inorder to receive these signals.Thus not only mobile tower but smartphones require radiations by itself inorder to send and receive signals.Mobile towers are checked and verified for the exact amount of radiation which is not harmful to the human body.But what is the radiation that our smartphone emit?

It has been a debate even now if Smartphone radiation is harmful to human body or not.Smartphone radiation is non-Ionizing and thus not harmful.But there has been no confirmation regarding that as some studies shows that it is unhealthy.There are several smartphones released by hundreds of companies.So Standards are necessary to keep the radiation levels down and to assure that no compromise has been made in the making of a smartphone.A smartphone’s radiation is measured as SAR value ( Specific Absorption Rate ).In India it is measured as watts of radiation emitted to the body of 1 kg per 1 gram tissue.The maximum SAR value allotted in India is 1.6 kg per 1 gm of Tissue.It is measured at the talking position with the antennas close to the face.No Smartphone having radiations above this level is not permitted for sale in India. Apart from other countries which relies on Smartphone manufacturer’s SAR testing, India in it’s Telecommunication Engineering Centre perform the tests by themselves and makes it assure.India is a country with strict policies regarding Smartphone radiation levels. But does low SAR value affect the range of Signal? The answer is No;SAR value determines the radiation emitted by the smartphones under normal signal quality from the tower.These values may vary according to the signal quality from the Mobile Tower.If at a poor signal area, The lowest SAR valued Smartphones may emit higher radiation levels than the High SAR value devices under normal circumstances.Thus it is only an average value of the radiation emitted by the smartphone.

Even though most studies depicts Smartphone radiation harmless, care should be taken inorder to avoid these radiations as this context is still a debating issue.So how should you choose a Smartphone with lowest radiation possible? Yes certainly by looking at the SAR value.You can find the SAR values on your smartphone’s packaging. Or just simply verify your phone specifications in google.If you are confused between two phones during a Smartphone purchase, Do consider this factor in choosing the one for you.

Some Smartphones with low SAR rating are listed below;

Samsung Galaxy A5 (Body SAR) -  0.48 W/kg
Galaxy note 4 (Body SAR)            -  0.38 W/kg
HtC one M8 (Body SAR)               - 0.22 W/kg
Zenfone 2 (Body SAR)                   - 0.35 W/kg
Galaxy S6 (Body SAR)                   - 0.50 W/kg

The Smartphones with comparatively high SAR value are;

Iphone 6 (Body SAR)                      - 0.97 W/kg
Iphone 5s (Body SAR)                     - 1.00 W/kg

Even though SAR value up to 1.6 is permitted by the standards,it is better advised to use a smartphone with comparatively low SAR value.Along with these it is recommend to use your smartphones in the following ways inorder to reduce exposure to radiaton.

1-Always use a headphone to talk

2-Switch your phone off while going to sleep or keep it away while sleeping.
3-Use texting instead of callig wherever possible
4-Avoid using your phone in low signal areas as the antennas would be in high power to acquire signals.
5-Always keep your phones in your pockets with the screen facing your body as the antennas of your smartphones are located on the back side.