S
an Francisco's cell
phone radiation signage law has passed, ready to scare and confuse
consumers about the so-called dangers of phones. Why is it confusing?
Because there's no scientific consensus that a problem even exists.
As the The New York Times report about the new law notes, it's being heralded as a victory for the consumer by politicians including mayor Gavin Newsom. The actual requirement is that retailers must display a note next to the sales detail of every phone (in a font of at least 11 points high) that describes the specific absorption rate--SAR--of the device. Backers of the legislation see this as a great thing, as it'll inform consumers of the "risks" of using a particular phone, in the same way that warning labels on cigarettes or foods work.
But the new labeling law creates an illusion that some phones are "safer" while other phones are more "dangerous." There is no conclusive proof that cell phone radiation of any intensity, big or small, causes harm to humans. What's more, the average member of the public won't know what SAR figures mean, and just sees a number that somehow relates to health and danger: Explaining that it's a measure of electromagnetic radiation power absorbed per kilo of body tissue is beyond the purview of a tiny sign in a store display.
To read the full, original article click on this link: San Francisco's Cell Phone Radiation Law: Fear or Science? | Fast Company
Author: Kit Eaton
