Health
Frequently Asked Questions
Do mobile phones pose a health hazard?
No. Health officials and scientific experts around the world have been regularly reviewing the science supporting the safety of radio waves. Their conclusions have been consistent over many years: the signals from wireless telephones, two-way radios or other wireless communications devices pose no known health risk.
For expert views about mobile phone safety, go to: Expert Opinion Quotes.
What is the scientific support for the safety of mobile phones?
Research on the possible health effects of radio waves dates back more than 60 years. Substantial research and numerous evaluations by the world's leading scientific experts provide a sound basis for public confidence in the safety of these products. The World Health Organization lists more than 1,800 peer-reviewed publications looking for possible RF bioeffects. Scientific expert panels, standard-setting organizations and others have examined this extensive evidence and have identified no risk from radio waves of wireless phones, two-way radios or other portable communications devices. Ongoing research has continued to strengthen the scientific basis for confidence in the safety of mobile phones.
For additional information on expert health reviews and research, go to:
U.S. Food and Drug AdministrationWorld Health Organization
International Commission on Non-Ionizing Research Protection (ICNIRP)
EMF-Portal of the RWTH Aachen University
What are the science-based standards for safety?
Scientists establish guidelines for safe human exposure to radio waves. They first identify an intensity level below which radio-frequency (RF) energy is not known to cause adverse health effects of any kind. Standard-setting bodies then set exposure limits far below this threshold. These limits, with their substantial margins of safety, have the support of government agencies and international organizations around the world.
Two international safety bodies have developed exposure guidelines for workers and for the general public: the International Commission on Non-Ionizing Radiation Protection (ICNIRP); and the Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers (IEEE). Countries around the world have adopted one or the other of these guidelines. For example, in the U.S. and Canada RF levels set by the IEEE are in use, while in other parts of the world most countries have adopted the ICNIRP guidelines. Both standards have substantial margins of safety. All users, therefore, can have confidence that their products are safe.
For exposure limits used in different countries, go to: GSM Association Map
How does Motorola Mobility measure exposure to radio waves from mobile phones? What is SAR?
Motorola Mobility subjects all of its mobile products to laboratory testing that measures user exposure to radio waves. This is expressed in a term known as “specific absorption rate”, or SAR. Science-based safety standards establish SAR limits intended to keep exposures far below levels known to pose any health risks.
SAR is measured under laboratory conditions using the highest power level of the phone. The actual SAR of a consumer’s phone operating on a network is likely to be well below this value. Although SAR values for products vary, all SAR values for Motorola’s products are within safe exposure limits and are considered equally safe.
For additional information about SAR and SAR measurements, go to: EMF-Explained
How can I learn the SAR of my phone?
Motorola Mobility maintains a SAR information site, learn more here
Other areas of interest:
Safety of children:
U.S. Food and Drug AdministrationNIH National Cancer Institute Heart pacemakers
Use of a mobile phone at a gas/petrol station
Use of a wireless (Bluetooth) headset