Reviewing the RF safety issue in cellular telephones

Sources of RF radiation in the human environment continue to proliferate. New applications of RF energy in telecommunications are being developed at an astonishing rate. As for other RF-emitting devices, concerns have been raised as to the safety of cellular telephones. Cellular telephone base station emissions have been measured and found to be below exposure standards developed by the NCRP and the ANSI. In some cases, handheld and portable units may generate dose rates which approach the NCRP and ANSI standards for localized SARs. RF radiation standard development has been ongoing for over 50 years and substantial information has accumulated regarding RF energy absorption in man. This growing knowledge is reflected in the recent revision to the ANSI RF radiation exposure standard, which emphasizes the dynamic nature of such standards. Continued research on RF health hazards are being led by federal agencies and industry. Thus far, no supportable evidence has been brought forth to show that exposure to non-ionizing radiation from cellular telephones causes adverse health effects