On cell phone radiation (SF Chronicle)

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On cell phone radiation

What we said: " The cellular phone industry, wielding the threat of litigation,

intimidated San Francisco into shelving a law that would have required

point-of-sale disclosure of phones' radiation levels. The industry had similarly

pressured the Federal Communications Commission to back down from its

recommendation that customers consider a unit's specific absorption rate (that

rate at which the body absorbs radiofrequency energy from a phone) when making a

purchase. But the concerns about the potential danger of cell phone radiation

will not go away so easily. " - Editorial, May 7, 2011

What happened: On Monday, the Senate Environmental Quality Committee approved

legislation (SB932, by Sen. Mark Leno, D-San Francisco) that would require

in-store displays and manufacturers' websites to advise customers that the units

emit radiation, and to consult their user manuals for tips on how to reduce

exposure. San Francisco supervisors also are considering a scaled-back version

of the disclosure law that was shelved.

What's next: A statewide standard makes the most sense, and Leno's bill is a

modest but important step forward. Nearly all manufacturers include advice on

reducing radiation exposure - using a hands-free device, keeping cell phones out

of pockets, limiting call time - but that notice is typically buried deep in the

manuals, often in tiny print...

This article appeared on page A - 11 of the San Francisco Chronicle

http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/c/a/2011/05/11/ED151JE8JG.DTL & feed=\

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