Apple & Samsung: older phone models exceed radiation limits

Older models of Apple and Samsung smartphones released over the last three years may pose a danger to its users.

Experts and the general public have raised concerns on the adverse effects of being constantly exposed to radiation from smartphone devices. In a report published by the Chicago Tribune, these older smartphones may be emitting radiofrequency radiation levels that are above the limits that the US Federal Communications Commission (FCC) currently allows.

Now that 5g is expected to overtake the 4g mobile network, concerns continue to grow increasingly. Now, the outlet’s newly published report showed old smartphone versions that operate under 3G and 4G bands can potentially exceed FCC’s radiation safety limits by up to five times.

Companies in the phone manufacturing industry are regulated by FCC guidelines that limit radiofrequency radiation levels in devices as it is absorbed by the human body. Currently, the FCC uses the “specific absorption rate” (SAR) to measure if radiation levels are within the commission’s safety limit.

The safety limit is set at 1.6 watts per kilogram (1.6W/kg) which is averaged over 1 gram of tissue. According to the FCC, the set limit is “well below that at which laboratory testing indicates … adverse health effects could occur.”

FCC set this at 1.6 watts per kilogram (1.6W/kg), averaged over 1 gram of tissue. The FCC states that this limit is “well below that at which laboratory testing indicates … adverse health effects could occur. Approval is given to devices that will never go over the maximum SAR level set by the commission. Here are the old phone models found to have exceeded the SAR safe level:

iPhone 7 (SAR around two to four times higher than safety limit)
Galaxy S8, S9 and J3 (S8 got a reading of five times over the current standard)

Christian Woods
Christian Woods
Christian is a morning reporter and technology columnist for Best in Australia. Christian has worked in the media since 2000, in a range of locations. He joined Best in Australia in 2018, and began working in Melbourne in 2019.
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