Comparisons of Common Sources of Non-Ionizing Radiation

Another study, by the utility trade group in Washington, predictably vouched for smart meter safety.   But an interesting tidbit in that paper talks about the relatively emissions of various appliances.  

FM radio or TV broadcast station signal              0.005
SmartMeter™ device at 10 feet                           0.1
Cyber cafe (Wi‐Fi)                                          10‐20
Laptop computer                                            10‐20
Cell phone held up to head                               30‐10,000
Walkie‐Talkie at head                                       500‐42,000
Microwave oven, two inches from door               5,000

While smart meters may be getting a lot of recent attention,  UCAN has greater concerns over cell phones and cordless phones.  As the numbers reveal,  cell phones emit a fair amount of RF.   What you may not know is that your cordless phone may emit the same worrisome radiation as your cell phone? This is particularly so if you have a relatively new cordless phone... and it's a particular concern if that phone sits near your bed or anywhere else you spend long hours every day.

Apparently, digital cordless phones can emit large amounts of radiofrequency (RF) energy -- that may be equal to or greater than cell phones -- even when they're not being used. Since many people keep such phones at their bedside in addition to using them for extended conversations with family and friends, the long-term exposure has the potential to add up to dangerous amounts.

In contrast to the many research studies performed on cell phones, there is a paucity of comparable information on cordless phones.   With cell phones, where have been a number of studies that have been completed and are on-going.   Europe has been fairly active in evaluating the health risks of cell phones.   In November,  five European countries launched the Cohort Study on Mobile Communications (COSMOS). It's the largest project of its kind looking at the cell phone habits of more than 250,000 people ages 18 to 69 in Britain, Finland, the Netherlands, Sweden and Denmark.  And the World Health Organization, while having not found clear hazards, is still studying the matter and has expressed some significant concerns about health impacts. 

It's important to note that the original cordless phones sold in the 1990s operated at a frequency of 900 mHz, whereas newer models operate at a more hazardous higher frequency. Unfortunately cordless phones haven't been subject to the same kind of scrutiny to determine the extent of absorption of the radiation into the brain that's been done for cell phones.  We've only found one such study of brain tumor risks by long-term users of cordless phones and it isn't authoritative.

That said, we do urge customers to be more alert to potential dangers posed by cell phones or cordless phones.    Both the handset and the base of cordless phones can emit radiofrequency energy.  A key finding from research done on cell phones is that the radiation is absorbed more deeply into the brains of children. This could also be the case for cordless phones, which means the danger to the developing brain is likely greater than for adults. It might be a good idea to install corded phones for children to use.

Thus UCAN recommends that if you are on the cordless or cellphone for a long call, use the speaker mode or a headset.   Don't set these phones near your bed or where you spend long periods of time.    And if you need to make a long call, think about these or other options.   We, here at UCAN, make most of long calls at home using VoIP services such as Google Voice, Ooma, Yahoo Phone, Vonage and other very low-cost computer-based voice services.   These are probably the most affordable and safe options for voice communications services.