1. What about "radiation" from mobile phones and base stations?
2. Is it true that using a mobile phone causes cancer or other health effects?
3. Are there any safety limits on human exposure to radio waves?
4. Why are safety limits necessary?
5. What is SAR?
6. Does my Sony Ericsson mobile phone model meet the SAR requirements?
7. Where can I get the SAR value for my Sony Ericsson mobile phone?
8. Does a lower SAR mean that a phone is safer?
9. How can I reduce the exposure from mobile phones?
10. What about children using mobile phones?
11. Is it safe to use handsfree kits?
12. Does the use of shields lower the amount of radio waves from the phone?
13. Is it all right to be close to base station antennas?
14. Will the people who live in buildings with base station antennas be more exposed to radio waves than others?
15. Does Ericsson carry out its own research in health and safety?

Mobile phones and base stations use radio waves (electromagnetic fields or non-ionizing radiation) to send and receive speech, text messages, pictures and other data. Radio waves have for long been used for different types of wireless communication, like for instance radio and TV broadcasting. It is important not to confuse radio waves with radioactive radiation. An example of radioactive radiation is gamma rays, a type of ionizing radiation generated by nuclear materials.

Read more:

Ericsson brochure "Base stations and radio waves"
available under Downloads

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Extensive research over the course of many years has not established any conclusive evidence of a link between adverse health effects and the use of mobile phones.

Read more:

WHO, World Health Organization 
Fact sheet 193 "Electromagnetic fields and public health: Mobile phones and their base stations" is available under EMF publications & information resources - Fact Sheets and archives - "Click here to view" below Fact sheet archives.

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Yes, there are safety limits on exposure to radio waves. International and national health authorities, such as the World Health Organization (WHO), have adopted science-based safety guidelines specifying radio wave exposure limits. The limits were developed by the International Commission on Non-Ionizing Radiation Protection (ICNIRP) and have been set with wide margins to provide protection from established adverse effects on health.

Read more:
WHO World Health Organization website with Fact sheet 183 "Electromagnetic fields and public health: Health effects of radio frequency fields" available under EMF publications & information resources - Fact Sheets and archives - "Click here to view" below Fact sheet archives.

ICNIRP, International Commission on Non-Ionizing Radiation Protection website
FCC, Federal Communications Commission (US) website on radio frequency safety

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It has been well known for many years that very high levels of radio wave exposure can heat the body tissue by energy absorption. The safety limits have been set with a fifty-fold margin to avoid temperature levels causing adverse health effects.

Read more:

FDA, U.S. Food and Drug Administration website with consumer information on wireless phones
ICNIRP, International Commission on Non-Ionizing Radiation Protection website

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SAR stands for Specific Absorption Rate and is a measure of the rate of radio energy absorption in body tissue. Radio wave exposure limits are expressed as SAR levels in unit W/kg (watt per kilogram).

Read more:

MMF, Mobile Manufacturers Forum : website on Wireless devices and SAR information
FDA, U.S. Food and Drug Administration : website with consumer information on wireless phones

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Yes, Sony Ericsson's mobile phone models are tested during development to meet relevant SAR standards.

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All new phone models have easy-to-read and up-to-date SAR information in the packaging, including the maximum SAR value. The SAR information can be found on Sony Ericsson's website or the website of Mobile Manufacturers Forum, MMF.

Read more:
Sony Ericsson
MMF, Mobile Manufacturers Forum

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No. Variations in SAR do not mean that there are variations in safety. While there may be differences in SAR levels among phone models, all models must meet radio wave exposure guidelines.

Read more:

Ericsson leaflet "Why you shouldn't compare SAR values"

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Present scientific information does not indicate the need for any special precautions for use of mobile phones. However, the World Health Organization (WHO) gives some guidance for people how want to further limit their exposure to radio frequency energy.

Read more:
WHO World Health Organization

Fact sheet 193 "Electromagnetic fields and public health: Mobile phones and their base stations" is available under EMF publications & information resources - Fact Sheets and archives - "Click here to view" below Fact sheet archives.

FDA Food and Drug Administration (US) Cell phone facts - Consumer information for wireless phones

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There is no conclusive evidence of any link between mobile phones and adverse health effects for the users, including children and teenagers.

Read more:
WHO World Health Organization

Fact sheet 193 "Electromagnetic fields and public health: Mobile phones and their base stations" is available under EMF publications & information resources - Fact Sheets and archives - "Click here to view" below Fact sheet archives.

FDA Food and Drug Administration (US)

Cell phone facts - Consumer information for wireless phones

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Personal handsfree devices or headsets are designed for convenient, handsfree operation of the phone and not for safety reasons. Nevertheless, the results of tests over the years indicate that hands-free devices can significantly reduce the radio wave exposure of the head.

Read more:
WHO, World Health Organization

Fact sheet 193 "Electromagnetic fields and public health: Mobile phones and their base stations" is available under EMF publications & information resources - Fact Sheets and archives - "Click here to view" below Fact sheet archives.

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According to the World Health Organization (WHO), "[s]cientific evidence does not indicate any need for RF-absorbing covers or other "absorbing devices" on mobile phones. They cannot be justified on health grounds and the effectiveness of many such devices in reducing RF exposure is unproven."

Read more:
WHO, World Health Organization

Fact sheet 193 "Electromagnetic fields and public health: Mobile phones and their base stations" is available under EMF publications & information resources - Fact Sheets and archives - "Click here to view" below Fact sheet archives.

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Yes. There is only a small area in front of the antennas where the exposure could exceed the safety limits. The size of this area varies from a few centimeters up to a few meters, depending on the amount of power transmitted. The antennas are to be installed in such a way that people cannot get into this area.

Read more:
WHO, World Health Organization

Fact sheet 304 "Base stations and wireless networks" is available under EMF publications & information resources - Fact Sheets and archives

HPA, Health Protection Agency (UK)
Information sheet on "Mobile telephony and health -
exposure from base stations "

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No. To give coverage over a wider area, the antennas direct the radio waves away from the buildings they are mounted on. The antennas could be compared to the headlights of a car, which light up the road, but not the car itself. Inside and around the building, the intensity of the radio waves is far below the guidelines and is similar to that from radio and television transmitters.

Read more:
WHO, World Health Organization
Fact sheet no 304 "Base stations and wireless networks" under EMF publications & information resources - Fact Sheets and archives

HPA Health Protection Agency (UK)

Information sheet on Mobile telephony and health -
exposure from base stations

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Ericsson is conducting research on electromagnetic fields and mobile communications safety. Ericsson also collaborates with universities, other telecommunications companies and participates in various international research projects. In addition, Ericsson funds independent medical research conducted by national and international bodies.

Read more:
Corporate Responsibility report 2006, page 13

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