Christmas: tips on buying low-radiation mobile phones

Mobile phones are popular Christmas gifts

According to the Federal Statistical Office, mobile phones and smartphones are used in 98% of German households, whether it be for making calls, surfing the internet or watching films. People looking to buy a particularly low-radiation model for Christmas can find help with their decision from the Federal Office for Radiation Protection (BfS).

Mobile phones and tablets use high-frequency electromagnetic fields to transmit data. If the devices are operated close to the body, some of the energy from these fields is absorbed as heat – for example, by the head. This energy absorption is measured in the form of the specific absorption rate (SAR), which is expressed in watts per kilogram (W/kg). According to international guidelines, the specific absorption rate should be limited to a maximum of 2 W/kg. All models available in Germany must adhere to this limit.

Protected by the applicable limit values

"Many consumers are interested in how much radiation their mobile phone emits. For the last 20 years, they've been able to find this information on the BfS website, where we provide an overview of SAR values for common mobile phones," says BfS President Inge Paulini. "One of the ways that people can minimise their personal radiation exposure due to electromagnetic fields is by choosing a low-radiation model. Devices are considered low-radiation if their SAR value is no more than 0.6 watts per kilogram."

President of the Federal Office for Radiation Protection, Dr Inge Paulini

According to current scientific knowledge, there is no health risk due to the electromagnetic fields used in mobile communication. "People are protected by the applicable limit values," says Paulini. Models that meet especially stringent radiation-protection requirements can be awarded the government's "Blue Angel" eco-label. The prerequisite for this is that the device's specific absorption rate must not exceed 0.5 watts per kilogram when the phone is used near the head.

In the SAR list provided by the BfS, such devices are marked with a green symbol. The SAR value list can be found at www.bfs.de/sar. Consumers can find further tips on reducing their radiation exposure on the BfS website.