Specific absorption rate
From Biocrawler, the free encyclopedia.
Specific absorption rate (SAR) is a measure of the rate at which radio frequency (RF) energy is absorbed by the body when using a cellular telephone. In the United States, the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) has adopted limits for safe exposure to RF energy produced by mobile devices and requires that phones sold in the U.S. have a SAR level at or below 1.6 watts per kilogram (W/Kg) taken over a volume of 1 gram of tissue. In the EU the corresponding limit is 2 W/kg taken over a volume of 10 grams.
Mobile devices transmit and receive non-ionizing electromagnetic radiation in the form of radio signals. The long-term effects of exposure to electromagnetic radiation remain unclear. While some studies have found a connection between cell phone use and cancer, some question the validity of these studies. [1] (http://www.fda.gov/fdac/features/2000/600_phone.html) have refuted this and similar claims. Additional studies are needed to develop a better understanding of how electromagnetic radiation affects the human body.
SAR here, doesn't relate to the absorption rate of radiation by other living species. It is specific for the human species. Studies of SAR and their adverse effects on other living species, so far, remains an untouched topic, in research. These studies are vital, because any study on radiation effects on human species, can also be due to secondary effects - i.e., through the damage inflicted on other living species, thereby disturbing the fragile eco-system. There are already reports about dwindling species of butterflies, dragonflies, grasshoppers, fireflies etc, or their extinction from densely radiated areas (with effective mobile and satellite coverage) of human habitations.
See also
External links
- FCC: Cellular Telephone Specific Absorption Rate (http://www.fcc.gov/cgb/sar/)
- World Health Organization: Electromagnetic fields and public health (http://www.who.int/mediacentre/factsheets/fs193/en/)
