Smartphones have now become an important part of our daily life, but it is also harmful to our health. The smartphone is an electronic device that packs a radio transmitter and receiver to work on a wireless GSM network. When you keep the phone to your body, your body issues also absorb electromagnetic energy. This radiation can have health issues in long term. Several research papers claim that high radiation from cellular phones can have thermal and non-thermal effects on human tissue. This is the reason there is a recommended safe SAR value for smartphones.
What is SAR?
SAR or Specific absorption rate is the rate at which radiation is absorbed by the human body when exposed to a radiofrequency (RF) electromagnetic field. If you are using a mobile phone, your body is actually absorbing the radiation emitted by the phone. The SAR value is typically measured in units of watts per kilogram (W/kg).
Every mobile phone company reports the SAR value of each smartphone either on the packaging or on the specs sheet. It is measured in two ways.
- Head measurement
- Body measurement
There is no universal standard for safe SAR value. Different countries have accepted different acceptable SAR. For example, the US has a maximum of 1.6 W/kg for SAR value. In India, the maximum SAR value is set at 1.6 W/kg. If the SAR value of the phone is less than the recommended maximum SAR value, it is considered a safe phone. If a smartphone has a higher SAR value than the recommended maximum SAR value set by the country, the phone cannot be sold there.
Should I care about the SAR value of my phone?
While there is an ongoing debate about the potential health risks of prolonged exposure to RF energy from mobile devices, the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) in the United States and other regulatory bodies around the world have established SAR limits for mobile devices. In the US, the FCC’s SAR limit is 1.6 W/kg.
It’s good to know your phone’s SAR value but it’s not something to be overly concerned about, as long as the device meets the established SAR limits. Also, it’s not the only factor to consider for mobile radiation exposure, device usage patterns, the distance of the phone from the body, phone settings, etc. also have an impact on overall radiation exposure.
If you are concerned about the SAR value of your phone, you can look up the SAR value for your specific device on the FCC website or check with the manufacturer.
How to check SAR value?
If you want to know the SAR value of a phone before buying, you can have a look at the specs sheet on the official website. SAR value is also specified on the phone’s box,
In case you already have the phone, There is a really simple way to check the SAR value of a phone. Just dial USSD code *#07# and it will display the SAR value. See the screenshot below.
Dialing the USSD code on iPhone opens the Legal & Regulatory where you find the option for RF exposure. It basically provides the link to a web page to check the SAR value. You can directly go to go to Settings > General > Legal > RF exposure. It is better if you directly visit this web page to find out the SAR value of your iPhone model.
How to be safe?
Even if the SAR value of your phone is low, it still emits radiation. So, you should take some precautions. It is not recommended to talk for more than 30 minutes on the phone. If you have to, use earphones. Don’t sleep with the phone on the bed. Keep it at a distance. Avoid keeping the phone in your pockets if you can keep it in the bag.
