Legislation would require cell phone retailers to post cell phone radiation levels at point of sale

01/26/10 – Mayor Gavin Newsom today announced major consumer right-to-know legislation that will require cell phone retailers to post cell phone radiation levels at point of sale.  The ordinance will be introduced at the Board of Supervisors meeting today.

“Telephone manufacturers currently disclose cell phone radiation levels to the federal government,” said Mayor Newsom.  “This same information should also be made easily accessible to the consumer.”

While more research needs to be conducted on the safety of cell phone radiation, recent studies published in internationally regarded journals indicate that long term exposure to cell phone radiation may be responsible for increased rates of brain and salivary cancer, as well as other serious health problems. With the growing number of people using cell phones on a daily basis and the increasing use by young children, the questions around potential health effects are significant enough to warrant precautionary action.

“In addition to protecting the consumers’ right to know,” said Mayor Newsom, “this legislation will encourage telephone manufacturers to redesign their devices to function at lower radiation levels.  This is similar to Prop 65, which dramatically reduced public exposure to toxic materials because chemical companies removed toxic ingredients from their products in order to avoid product warnings.”

Cell phone radiation is regulated by both the FDA and the FCC, with a legal limit of 1.6 Watts per kilogram of SAR (specific absorption rate). Cell phone radiation varies widely depending on the model, with SAR’s between 0.19 and 1.6.  There is no technological reason why a cell phone needs to emit the maximum allowed levels of radiation.  Phones that emit lower amounts of radiation work just as well, and sport just as many features.

“I am not suggesting by any means that people should be fearful of using a cell phone,” said Mayor Newsom.  “Cell phones are an integral part of modern life; however, there are simple things that can be done to minimize exposure to the radiation emitted by the telephone such as using a head set, speaker phone or texting, and turning off the phone when it’s not in use.”