Are phones with low SARs safer?
It was recommended by the Stewart Report, in 2000, that information about Specific Absorption Rates (SARs) should be provided with every mobile phone bought, making it easier to compare them. SARs are one way of measuring the amount of radiation emitted by the phone. The higher the SAR, the greater the amount of microwaves that are likely to be absorbed by the head. New phones in the UK are forced by law to display maximum SAR levels in the manual that comes with the phone. Unfortunately, most phones and their accompanying manuals come in blister packs, so you will not have sight of the manual before purchase, unless you ask to see a copy of the appropriate manual that shopkeepers have assured us they will have available for customers to see. ICNIRP sets an SAR standard of 2 W/kg maximum in any 10 grammes of tissue [1], which applies to many European countries including the UK. The SAR thermal safety standards accepted by the FCC, FDA and regulatory agencies worldwide are based upon a
