• About the dangers of cell phones. SAR level and protection against it

    Articles and Lifehacks

    It is well known that a mobile device can affect our body. However, not everyone knows what is sar level in phone. This information is completely redundant for those who only know how, but is still quite useful.

    It is believed that certain radiation can cause significant damage to human health, and therefore there has been a lot of controversy about this for several years now. It is in order to determine the maximum permissible degree of radiation that an indicator such as SAR is used.

    What is the SAR level in a phone?

    On a mobile device, the SAR indicator characterizes the maximum amount of radiation that is absorbed by the human body. This indicator may vary depending on the device model used.

    Understanding what the sar level in a phone is, let’s add that it implies a unit of measurement of the degree of radiation absorption by the human body. Competent international organizations have already studied this question, and have an established opinion regarding what value of this unit is acceptable. Similar indicators have been approved by health care institutions of various countries. Let us add that the SAR value is calculated with a significant margin. It takes into account the safety of completely different categories and segments of the population.

    Acceptable level of phone SAR and tips for reducing its impact

    The mobile device is also certified for a certain SAR value. In order for it to pass such certification, this value should not be greater than set value. Thus, in the USA and Canada the accepted value is 1.6 W/kg per 1 gram of body tissue, and in the European Union - 2 W/kg per 10 gram of body tissue.

    Please note that the above figure is the maximum allowable value. In other words, in practice it should be much lower. The SAR indicator depends on many factors - for example, on the strength of reception, or on the availability of a connection at the current moment. The process does not affect its value.

    To reduce harmful influence electromagnetic radiation on the body, it is recommended to wear the mobile device as far as possible from the body, especially from those organs that are most important for life. This is especially true in poor reception conditions (for example, inside a car).

    During a conversation, it is best to use speakerphone or a headset, especially if we often communicate with other subscribers. At the same time, you should also try to improve reception - for example, go to the window.

    Specific models of mobile devices have an individual SAR indicator. You can find it in the instructions for our device. It's no secret that modern phones are actively used for web surfing. It is still recommended to try to use your device as little as possible unless absolutely necessary.

    Scientists around the world are busy searching for the dangers posed by mobile phones.

    This is due to the fact that the number of users cellular communication is growing, and operator equipment is being placed in public places. Among experts, opinions are divided: some believe that technology and progress are good, others believe that the more gadgets there are, the better for people’s health and the environment.

    Radiations in life

    Scientists see a particular problem in the fact that, unlike other electrical appliances, the telephone is located in close proximity to a person’s head, so the impact of gadgets is considered to be more negative than, for example, radiation from a microwave oven. According to experts, Bluetooth headsets do not save the situation, since wireless interface also carries a certain amount of radiation.

    In addition to smartphones, devices that are potentially hazardous to human health include: microwave ovens, radios, modems, routers and much more. All of these devices emit radio waves to a greater or lesser extent, but scientists see less danger in these items due to their distance from the user during operation.

    What is the SAR level?

    Due to the way it works, the phone certainly emits non-ionizing radiation. To classify the danger level of radiation, the SAR system was introduced. It shows the level of impact on the human body per second of use of the gadget. The value is measured in watts per kilogram.

    All phones that are officially available for purchase in Russia must comply with the permissible SAR value - up to 1.6 W. This value is 2.5 times lower than the one that made changes to the DNA of animals during experiments.

    Smartphones do not emit radiation as such, but non-ionizing radiation is still observed. It does not change the DNA structure and does not harm the user’s body. The effect of non-ionizing radiation can be observed in the form of heating of the ear after a long conversation.

    Precautions

    For those who seek to minimize the impact of gadgets on the body, experts advise using mobile phones on the street, connecting a headset if possible, and reducing call time to 1-2 minutes. It is also recommended to limit the daily operating time mobile phones children and people with weak immune systems. It is better to leave the device charging away from the bed, and in everyday life, carry the smartphone in a bag rather than in a pocket.

    Today, everyone uses mobile phones, from young children to their grandmothers. But few people think about the possible harm of a regular mobile phone.

    During operation, a mobile phone inevitably emits an electromagnetic field. The impact of such an electromagnetic field on the human body has been almost not studied. But one thing is clear - there is little good in this. Therefore, whenever possible, it is necessary to minimize the impact of a mobile phone on your body.

    To determine the level of exposure to an electromagnetic field on the human body, the so-called SAR (Specific Absorption Rates) or specific ratio absorption. The SAR indicator determines the electromagnetic field energy released inside the human body in one second. SAR is measured in watts per kilogram. The higher the SAR level, the greater the danger to humans. this device. According to European laws, the permissible SAR level is 2.0 W/kg. In the USA the laws are even stricter. Here, in order for a mobile phone to pass certification, its SAR level must not exceed 1.6 W/kg.

    How to find out the SAR level?

    You can find out the SAR value technical specifications your mobile phone. If the information you need is not there, you can search on the Internet. For example, on the website or. Here is information about the SAR level for everyone popular models mobile phones.

    For example, for mobile phones and tablet computers from Apple, the SAR level is indicated in the table below (information from sardatabase.com):

    Model SAR level in W/kg
    BlackBerry Curve 9310 1,58
    Motorola Razr HD 1,56
    Motorola Droid Razr Maxx HD 1,56
    BlackBerry Curve 9350 1,5
    Nokia Lumia 900 1,49
    Motorola Defy XT 1,48
    ZTE Score M 1,45
    ZTE Score 1,45
    Motorola Droid Razr 1,45
    Motorola Droid Razr Maxx 1,45
    BlackBerry Z10 1,42
    Samsung Rugby Pro 1,42
    Nokia Lumia 928 1,4
    Sonim XP Strike 1,39
    ZTE Anthem 4G 1,39
    T-Mobile Concord 1,38
    Sprint Vital 1,38
    Sprint Force 1,37
    Motorola Atrix HD 1,34
    Motorola Droid Razr M 1,3

    How to reduce the impact of electromagnetic fields on the body?

    Knowing the SAR level of your cell phone is good. But this does not mean that you have to put up with its radiation. Consider the series simple actions, which will allow you to significantly reduce the negative impact of your phone on the body.

    In the picture: The impact of a mobile phone on a person

    The SAR level is measured at maximum power transmitter. In actual use, the level of exposure will depend on the specific conditions. As a rule, than better quality communication at the point where the mobile phone user is located, the less power the phone uses.

    Based on this, we can give the following advice:

    • When holding the phone near your ear, try not to block the antenna. In the majority modern phones The antenna is located at the top of the housing. Therefore, you should hold the phone by its bottom.
    • When talking indoors, if possible, approach the window. This will improve communication with the base station and reduce radiation from the phone.
    • If you are far from base station and the connection with the tower is very weak, then try to minimize the call time. Because in such a situation, the mobile phone will work at full capacity.
    • Make as few calls as possible from cars and other vehicles. The metal body of a vehicle significantly impairs communications.
    • Use a wired headset or speakerphone to increase the distance of the mobile phone from your head.

    In addition, you need to remember that at the time of connection, the mobile phone emits a more powerful signal than during a conversation. To avoid this excess radiation, when outgoing call bring the phone to your ear only after connecting with the subscriber.

    Users, finding the line “SAR level” in the specifications of a smartphone, as a rule, do not pay attention to the value written in it. But in vain - the damage that the gadget can cause to the user’s health depends on how large it is. We will tell you in this article which level of SAR for mobile phones is considered normal and which is excessive.

    SAR is an abbreviation for Specific Absorption Rate, that is, energy absorption rate. The SAR level shows how much electromagnetic field energy is absorbed by the tissues of the human body in 1 second. Radiation unit SAR phones– W/kg. Accordingly, by looking at the level, the user can immediately decide how likely it is that the gadget will harm him.

    The SAR value is not constant. At any given moment, the level of radiation depends on many factors - primarily on the quality of communication. If the connection is good, then little energy is released. How worse connection, the more negative the smartphone has on the body. The maximum is achieved when the gadget switches from one tower to another. Exactly maximum value and must be specified by manufacturers in the specifications.

    It is worth noting that experts have not yet determined exactly whether mobile devices affect the human body at all. But the uncertainty in in this case even worse - that’s why doctors scare active users with cell death and the formation of cancerous tumors. You can find out what symptoms occur during irradiation from this table:

    How much energy do the devices emit?

    The first NMT communication devices were characterized by a SAR level of 5 W. If experts now discovered such a device, they would clutch their heads in horror and begin writing everywhere they could that such a device should not be put on sale. The high radiation was due to the minimum number of base stations.

    Later, the requirements for this parameter began to become more and more stringent - for GSM devices the radiation power did not exceed 1 W. The common belief that old phones with buttons were more harmful than modern advanced devices is actually wrong - laboratory tests showed that for featurephones, radiation levels ranged from 0.42 to 1.12 W/kg. This is the norm by today's standards.

    The SAR limit value is not unified - each geographical area has its own opinion on this matter:

    • In the USA, it is considered normal if the SAR does not exceed 1.6 W/kg per 1 gram of tissue.
    • In Europe, the calculation method is slightly different - there ATS is calculated per 10 grams of tissue. The maximum permissible value is 2 W / kg.

    In Russia, the method of measuring radiation is completely different - SaNPiN prefers to define it in W/sq.cm. Of course, mobile phone manufacturers are in no hurry to publish information about radiation in SaNPiN units. The SAR level in W/kg cannot be converted into these units either. All we have to do is take the word of the Russian government authorities, who claim that the SaNPiN methodology is even more stringent than those used in the USA and Europe.

    How to find out the SAR level?

    The SAR level must be recorded in technical specifications mobile device- that is, in a small booklet that is included in the kit. If this information is not there, you can go online and Google it. It’s worth going to the Yandex.Market website and looking for the SAR value in the list of characteristics of a particular device.

    A backup option is devicespecifications.com. In the cards of many smartphones on this site there is a tab “ SAR».

    By going to the tab, you can find out the radiation level of the smartphone in 2 versions (for the head and for the body), and also see how harmful the gadget is specific model compared to other models of the same brand and other brands.

    Which phones are the safest in terms of SAR levels?

    If you believe the results of a fan study conducted jointly by Roskachestvo and the international organization ICRT, Samsung smartphones are recognized as the most harmless. The A3 and A5 gadgets were among the top five safest in terms of radiation, and the Galaxy S7 Edge was recognized as the best in terms of multiple safety and quality parameters. The radiation level of the latter is only 0.264 W / kg.

    But Apple has nothing to brag about. The devices of this company are considered very harmful. Only the iPhone 3G has a satisfactory level of ATS, which many people no longer remember.

    Majority iPhone models emits 5-6 times more energy than Samsung Galaxy Edge 7 (with Exynos processor).

    Xiaomi has also done a good job on the security of its devices. The popular models Mi5, Redmi 4 and Mi MIX have CAP levels in the range from 0.35 to 0.4 W/kg. Phone numbers listed With low level SARs will definitely not harm their owners.

    How to reduce the negative impact of the phone on the body?

    To reduce the negative impact mobile device on the body, you should listen to the following recommendations from experts:

    • Raise your smartphone to your head only after the call has been established. During connection, the most intense radiation occurs.
    • Call from the metro, trams, trolleybuses, cars only if absolutely necessary. When making calls from a vehicle, the signal will not be ideal (metal interferes with it), which means the radiation will be higher.
    • When talking, go to the window or go out onto the balcony for better communication.
    • Do not cover the antenna with your finger during a telephone conversation.

    The best option for those who want to avoid radiation exposure at all– purchase a Bluetooth headset. Then you can talk as much as you want, anywhere, without worrying about your health.

    Conclusion

    No matter what doctors say, there is now no serious reason to worry about the fact that a smartphone can irradiate the owner and provoke the appearance of any disease. Even the iPhone 7 Plus, “differing with a minus sign” is significant SAR indicator, can be safe - after all, the number present in the specifications is the maximum, not the average. However, you should not ignore safety measures - there is no doubt that smartphone radiation has a certain effect on the tissues of the human body.

    U cell phones, in addition to the amount of memory, processor speed and megapixels in the camera, there is another important indicator - the level of radiation. Typically, the characteristics give the SAR value - this “the level of radiation determines the energy of the electromagnetic field released in the tissues of the human body in one second” (quote from Wikipedia).

    For example, the MagCom phone (MagCom model) has a SAR level of 0.04, and the iPhone 3GS has a SAR level of 1.20 (this is at the maximum). The norm is 2. By the way, marketers, here's an idea for you. “Eco-friendly” phone, green and made of wood. With minimal radiation levels. “Protect yourself from cancer” and all that.

    The phone's radiation depends on what frequency it operates on (only GSM has several frequency ranges, and there is also WCDMA and so on), how high is the signal level from the station and whether WiFi and Bluetooth (all transmitters emit) and other radio modules are turned on.

    In addition, SAR is measured differently in different countries. In the USA and some other countries, the SAR value is measured per 1 gram of tissue (and this characteristic is often referred to as US SAR), the norm in these countries is 1.6 W/kg, in Europe and parts of other countries - per 10 grams, the norm in in this case - 2 W/kg (EU SAR). Russia has adopted its own SanPiN standards. The SAR value in them cannot be translated using simple mathematics, but it is known that Russian standards are, in general, more stringent.

    Now, watch your hands. What happens if the phone has two or three telephone radio modules? It is logical that their radiation level will be higher. How long? Do SAR values ​​add up? Reply to last question I don’t know, but you can view SAR for mobile phones with multiple SIM cards.

    I looked at a few examples. Certified Samsung Duos SGH-D880 - 0.22 W/kg (per 10 g), Samsung Duos GT-C5212 - 0.62, and Fly never discloses information about the SAR of its phones (sic!), but they are sold officially in Russia. Apparently, the level is the maximum permissible or very close to the upper limit.

    For the “gray” Chinese, the characteristics are more difficult to find, but it is mentioned on the Internet that supposedly someone from Mobile-Review took measurements (I found nothing on their website) and the results were as follows: TV1000 - 1.63, N95 - 2, 08, F003 - 3.12, C5000 - 2.63. If this is true, then it doesn’t matter on what scale it was measured, it’s still a lot.

    Based on the numbers found, there are three conclusions. First, everything is strict with certification in our country, otherwise the counters official shops would be overwhelmed Chinese phones(it’s clear that you can buy anything in the markets), the second one is from certified phones with two SIM cards, SAR is within normal limits, but there are two emitters, hence the conclusion - the reception will be weak, which is what users of such phones often complain about (sometimes, however, it happens that one radio module is weaker than the second, which is also unpleasant). The bottom line is that it’s better not to buy phones with three radio modules at all.

    The third conclusion is that manufacturers of phones with two SIM cards have to somehow reduce the level of consumption. I don’t know of a single certified cell phone with two SIM cards, where when calling with one SIM card, they could call the second one. But there are plenty of Chinese ones like that. This is probably due to the fact that the second radio module “falls asleep” in order to reduce radiation during a conversation on the first.

    P.S. For starters, there is a cell phone with 4 SIM, produced, of course, in China.