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For Your Safety
What does “SAR” mean?
In 1996, the FCC, working with the FDA, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, and
other agencies, established RF exposure safety guidelines for wireless phones in the
United States. Before a wireless phone model is available for sale to the public, it must
be tested by the manufacturer and certified to the FCC that it does not exceed limits
established by the FCC. One of these limits is expressed as a Specific Absorption Rate, or
“SAR.” SAR is a measure of the rate of absorption of RF energy in the body. Tests for SAR
are conducted with the phone transmitting at its highest power level in all tested frequency
bands. Since 1996, the FCC has required that the SAR of handheld wireless phones not
exceed 1.6 watts per kilogram, averaged over one gram of tissue.
Although the SAR is determined at the highest power level, the actual SAR value of a
wireless phone while operating can be less than the reported SAR value. This is because
the SAR value may vary from call to call, depending on factors such as proximity to a cell
site, the proximity of the phone to the body while in use, and the use of hands-free devices.
For more information about SARs, see the FCC’s OET Bulletins 56 and 65 at http://www.fcc.
gov/Bureaus/Engineering_Technology/Documents/bulletins or visit the Cellular Telecom-
munications Industry Association website at http://www.ctia.org/consumer_info/index.cfm/
AID/10371. You may also wish to contact the manufacturer of your phone.
Can I minimize my RF exposure?
If you are concerned about RF, there are several simple steps you can take to minimize
your RF exposure. You can, of course, reduce your talk time. You can place more distance
between your body and the source of the RF, as the exposure level drops off dramatically
with distance. The FDA/FCC website states that “hands-free kits can be used with wireless
phones for convenience and comfort. These systems reduce the absorption of RF energy
in the head because the phone, which is the source of the RF emissions, will not be
placed against the head. On the other hand, if the phone is mounted against the waist or
other part of the body during use, then that part of the body will absorb more RF energy.
Wireless phones marketed in the U.S. are required to meet safety requirements regardless
of whether they are used against the head or against the body. Either configuration should
result in compliance with the safety limit.” Also, if you use your wireless phone while in
a car, you can use a phone with an antenna on the outside of the vehicle. You should also
read and follow your wireless phone manufacturer’s instructions for the safe operation of
your phone.