First global standard for measurement of mobile phone exposure

As mobile phones become more popular around the world questions persist as to whether their use could pose any adverse health effects. To address these and other concerns, international expert bodies have established limits on radio wave exposure from mobile phones.

A portion of the radio frequency energy emitted by mobile phones is absorbed by the human body. The rate at which the energy is absorbed is called the specific absorption rate, or SAR and limits for this are set by organizations such as the International Commission on Non-Ionizing Radiation Protection (ICNIRP), headquartered in Germany, and the Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers (IEEE), based in the United States.

Until now there hasn’t been a single, globally-accepted standardized measurement method for products that must adhere to SAR limits. Radio frequency emissions from similar devices vary from one product and one manufacturer to another. The SAR limit for mobile phones of 2 watts per kilogram averaged over any 10 grams of contiguous tissue is the value used in most countries; 1.6 watts per kilogram averaged over any 1 gram of tissue in the shape of a cube is used mainly in North America. Both are considered safe by the World Health Organization.

The International Electrotechnical Commission has just published a new International Standard that mobile phone manufacturers – or anyone making hand-held wireless communication devices – can use to ensure that their products adhere to internationally-recognized SAR limits. It specifies the methods to use to measure SAR limits and harmonizes different practices and different methods used around the world. This standard deals only with measurement methods. It does not set SAR limits.

SAR, which was first proposed by the National Council on Radiation Protection and Measurements in 1979 as a measure of the rate at which radio frequency energy is absorbed in a unit mass of biological tissue, is measured in units of watts per kilogram averaged over 1 gram (IEEE) or 10 grams (ICNIRP) of tissue. SAR can be determined analytically (computer modelling) or by measurement. Using robot-controlled miniature probes to measure the electric field strength in an anthropomorphic phantom model of the human head is currently the preferred technique.

IEC Technical Officer Rémy Baillif says there has been a high demand from manufacturers for this standard. Manufacturers of mobile phones, specialized test laboratories, telecommunications regulators and health officials should constitute the largest user group of the new standard, but it is the end-user – the consumer – who is the ultimate beneficiary.

The World Health Organization is deeply involved in the question of radio frequency fields and human health. As part of its charter to protect public health and in response to public concern over health effects of electromagnetic frequency exposure, the WHO established the International EMF Project in 1996 to assess the scientific evidence of possible health effects of EMF in the frequency range from 0 to 300 GHz. The EMF Project encourages focused research to fill important gaps in knowledge and to facilitate the development of internationally acceptable standards limiting EMF exposure. Ultimately, the intention is for the WHO to issue clear recommendations to its member countries so that they can enact safety legislation on this question. The IEC is a partner in the EMF Project and was encouraged by WHO to develop measurement standards for EMF emitting devices.

The new International Standard IEC 62209-1 was developed jointly by the IEC, by the European Committee for Electrotechnical Standardization (CENELEC) and by the IEEE, who worked together informally through common membership in various technical committees. This is the first of a multi-part series of standards and it covers devices, such as mobile phones, with a frequency range of 300 MHz to 3 GHz.

EMC Technologies provides fully compliant SAR testing to IEC62209-1

(March 2005)

If it's really URGENT

Call any time on: +61 418 566 466

EMC Technologies - Victoria (Head Office)

176 Harrick Road Keilor Park Victoria 3042 Australia
Ph: +61 3 9365 1000 Fax: +61 3 9331 7455

EMC Technologies - New Zealand

47 MacKelvie Street, Grey Lynn, Auckland New Zealand Ph: + 64 93600 862 Fax: + 64 93600 861

EMC Technologies - New South Wales

Unit 3, 87 Station Road, Seven Hills NSW 2147 Australia Ph: + 612 9624 2777 Fax: + 612 9838 4050

EMC Technologies - Queensland

Unit 1 / 15 Success Street, Acacia Ridge 4110 Qld Australia Ph: + 617 3875 2455 Fax: + 617 3875 2466