Iphone / Laptop / wifi Radiation

[SingaporeStu]

Where I live, we had a crazy lady who would go around the train asking people to turn off their phones because it gave her and her mother (who apparently always traveled with her) headaches. She did it every time she got on the train, and it was an approximately 1 hour+ journey. She would weave her way through the crowds, going to almost every carriage (there would usually be 6 carriages), asking anyone and everyone to turn off their phones.

Naturally, nobody paid her any attention. Most ignored her or brushed her off, but once I heard one guy scold her fiercely and curse her and her whole family (the cursing is so much more colourful in Hokkien, a Chinese dialect widely spoken in my part of the world). It was apparently not the first time she approached him, and he'd apparently already told her off several times before.

She seemed a little more off her rocker than just that. I wondered if she was ever referred to our Institute of Mental Health...

Anyway, I moved out from that area years ago, but I wonder if that lady and her mother are still around...

In the end, who knows, she, and people like her, may well be right. But in the meanwhile, the rest of us need to go on with our lives. And part of that means using our radiation-spewing phones, laptops, etc;

 

[Gp1]

iphone manual

Extract from the 3G iphone manual?

iPhone’s SAR measurement may exceed the FCC exposure guidelines for
body-worn operation if positioned less than 15 mm (5/8 inch) from the
body (e.g. when carrying iPhone in your pocket). For optimal mobile device
performance and to be sure that human exposure to RF energy does not
exceed the FCC, IC, and European Union guidelines, always follow these
instructions and precautions: When on a call using the built-in audio receiver
in iPhone, hold iPhone with the dock connector pointed down toward your
shoulder to increase separation from the antenna. When using iPhone near
your body for voice calls or for wireless data transmission over a cellular
network, keep iPhone at least 15 mm (5/8 inch) away from the body, and only
use carrying cases, belt clips, or holders that do not have metal parts and that
maintain at least 15 mm (5/8 inch) separation between iPhone and the body.
If you are still concerned about exposure to RF energy, you can further limit
your exposure by limiting the amount of time using iPhone, since time is a
factor in how much exposure a person receives, and by placing more distance
between your body and iPhone, since exposure level drops off dramatically
with distance.

You may not have read this, its all safe they told you, dont worry!

 

[ngenerator]

^I would be able to read your "sarcasm" a lot better if it wouldn't be comprised of nothing but broken English and cut off sentence fragments.

 

[-aggie-]

Extract from the 3G iphone manual?

SNIP
You may not have read this, its all safe they told you, dont worry!

What does this have to do with your OP? Yeah, nothing.

 

[androiphone]

the extract clearly says that if the phone is less than 15mm from the body it may cause higer than the recommended radiation, since there is a maximum limit in place you have to assume that there are likely negative impacts to the radiation (and they do not have to explicitly say that there is a health impact but there is one implied)

that is good enough evidance for me that there can and will be proven negative heath impacts from mobile phones in the future (after all people who smoked and drank alcohol once thought that it was a 100% safe)

I'm not going to stop using my phone but I already use sensible precautions, like if I'm alone I use it on speaker away from me and when I sit (not in like a cafe where it might get pinched) I tend to take it out of my pocket if only for comfort.

I'm not even going to (or want to) lecture you that you should do the same (because I don't like people lecturing me on this type of stuff) but I just want you to have an open mind and listen to evidance from both sides make up your own mind and not jump down someones throat if someone says that there might be -ve health impacts, and certainly not come crying if/when it is proven (touch wood) it does cause cancer or anything else

 

[Shenaniganz08]

Extract from the 3G iphone manual?

iPhone’s SAR measurement may exceed the FCC exposure guidelines for
body-worn operation if positioned less than 15 mm (5/8 inch) from the
body (e.g. when carrying iPhone in your pocket). For optimal mobile device
performance and to be sure that human exposure to RF energy does not
exceed the FCC, IC, and European Union guidelines, always follow these
instructions and precautions: When on a call using the built-in audio receiver
in iPhone, hold iPhone with the dock connector pointed down toward your
shoulder to increase separation from the antenna. When using iPhone near
your body for voice calls or for wireless data transmission over a cellular
network, keep iPhone at least 15 mm (5/8 inch) away from the body, and only
use carrying cases, belt clips, or holders that do not have metal parts and that
maintain at least 15 mm (5/8 inch) separation between iPhone and the body.
If you are still concerned about exposure to RF energy, you can further limit
your exposure by limiting the amount of time using iPhone, since time is a
factor in how much exposure a person receives, and by placing more distance
between your body and iPhone, since exposure level drops off dramatically
with distance.

You may not have read this, its all safe they told you, dont worry!

Talk about taking things out of context. Why not post the rest of the numbers

From the apple manual

tested at use on ears = SAR .974
Tested 15mm away from body .694
Iphone antenna located on rear of iphone = 11.6mm


Here are the facts about SAR radiation

The FCC rating for the iPhone (probably the average of the two above)
iPhone 3GS = .79 SAR


+As stated from literature the threshold level for injury is a SAR of 4 W/ KG

+ The FCC will not allow a phone that puts out more than 1.6

After hundreds of scientific studies it was shown that 1.6W/kg of SAR radiation does not cause cellular damage or cancer.

Some studies found reduced oxidation with SAR of 6 W/Kg, but oxidation is not always a good thing ( atherosclerosis is caused by increased oxidation ! )

OP you are wrong, or attention seeking, or trying to sell a product

either way, this qualifies as trolling

 

[goobot]

we'll adapt. we will always adapt for this kind of stuff.

serious. no my phone is no where near me.

 

[Megalobyte]

I don't know about all that, I'm no scientist, but I will say that after the last update, my headaches do feel snappier.

 

[uaecasher]

Even if they are really harmful, I'd still use them because their benefits are way more better than their negative effects.

 

[Shenaniganz08]

Even if they are really harmful, I'd still use them because their benefits are way more better than their negative effects.

hear hear

excuse me while I crack open another Newcastle

 

[cdinca]

For what it is worth(which I'm sure is nothing), I always carried my phone in my left shirt pocket. I felt like I could feel it. Last year I lost all color in that areola, and had terrible itching there. I moved to keeping my phone away from my body, and the itching has stopped...the color has returned slightly, but not completely. Could just have been a coincidence, but I will not keep my phone that close to my body anymore.

 

[hazza.jockel]

You can also get radiation from the sun, the dose of which being higher then that of a mobile but I don't have any source so feel free to correct me.
So make sure you do NOT go out side.

Also radiation is omitted from the earth itself so make sure you don't walk on the earth and for heavens sake make sure you don't go underground!!!

Oh and by the way the cosmic radiation you receive when you fly is sure to give you cancer, so only fly if you want to die.

Just incase you didn't realise im not being serious

 

[ngenerator]

I don't know about all that, I'm no scientist, but I will say that after the last update, my headaches do feel snappier.

Well done!

 

[scaredpoet]

the extract clearly says that if the phone is less than 15mm from the body it may cause higer than the recommended radiation, since there is a maximum limit in place you have to assume that there are likely negative impacts to the radiation (and they do not have to explicitly say that there is a health impact but there is one implied)

So because the government says something, they MUST know what they're talking about, right?

The truth is the SAR limit is an arbitrary figure based on recommendations from scientific groups... who all admit that the they haven't made a decision based on the conflicting studies whether cell phone radiation is unsafe or not, let alone what is an "acceptable" level. They could be wrong and a much higher dose is okay. Or, they could be wrong the other way, and NO radiation exposure is acceptable. They just don't know.

Regardless, the FCC is required by the National Environmental Policy Act of 1969 to issue SOME standard on acceptable exposure for various types of EM emissions, and so, lock of knowledge notwithstanding, have to say something about the matter, even if the recommendation could be flawed.

that is good enough evidance for me that there can and will be proven negative heath impacts from mobile phones in the future (after all people who smoked and drank alcohol once thought that it was a 100% safe)

Well then, now you're on notice. Turn off your computer, burn your iPhone, and don your tinfoil hat. It's bad for you.

I'm not going to stop using my phone

Then it's your fault if you get cancer.

 

[-aggie-]

Decided to look at what other posts the OP had. Not surprisingly they're all stuff about this topic.

What is surprising is that the OP rides "motorbikes."

Chances from dying from supposed radiation from the iPhone, any cell phone, or any laptop ~ 0 (certainly less than the odds below)

Chances from dying while riding a motorcyle = ~0.0006*

*http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Motorcycle_safety

*http://www.blog.joelx.com/odds-chances-of-dying/877/

 

[GadgetGeek71]

I wonder if everyone on earth farted at the same time, would we die of O2 poisoning? mmm...

 

[ngenerator]

I wonder if everyone on earth farted at the same time, would we die of O2 poisoning? mmm...

But if we all held it in, we'd have a spontaneous combustion epidemic!! What to do, what to do?!?

 

[mrboult]

If cell phones caused cancer, we'd all be dead by now and the Amish, who would be the only people left on earth, would be laughing their asses off at us.

Aged 29 and having had a mobile phone for near 15 years now, I do worry that I am in the 'guinea pig generation' as it were.

What I mean is that as of yet no one can test what using mobile phones does to a human after 50 years of using them daily. Hell even 30 years.

So really how can we have any idea how serious the long term affects will be?

I still choose to have, use and love my iPhone. But I do worry if we are all going to suffer as a result.

Fingers crossed.

 

[androiphone]

snip
Well then, now you're on notice. Turn off your computer, burn your iPhone, and don your tinfoil hat. It's bad for you.
snip

way to take selected quotes

ie From The Simpsons - Diatribe of a Mad Housewife

Tom Clancy: Hello, this is Tom Clancy. Would I say, "If you're hunting for a good read this October, Marge Simpson's book is a clear and present danger to your free time"? Hell no I wouldn't. What do you mean I just said it? That doesn't count! Hello. Hello?

 

[GadgetGeek71]

But if we all held it in, we'd have a spontaneous combustion epidemic!! What to do, what to do?!?

Ahh...I see you're a "gas is half empty" type of person...lol...my God, I need to get a life.

The whole radiation B.S. has been an issue since bag phones. Heck, I bet in the 50's, they were talking about radiation leakage from walkie-talkies. Testicle cancer due to my iPhone being in my pocket?!? Yeah, they got an app for that...

 

[scaredpoet]

way to take selected quotes

Yes, quotes from here:

https://forums.macrumors.com/posts/9408780/

that were not changed in substance and accurately reflected what you said. It's not like I can twist your words. Your post was a couple posts above mine for everyone to see.

Way to distract from the argument when you have nothing to argue back with.

 

[Gp1]

Talk about taking things out of context. Why not post the rest of the numbers

From the apple manual

tested at use on ears = SAR .974
Tested 15mm away from body .694
Iphone antenna located on rear of iphone = 11.6mm


Here are the facts about SAR radiation

The FCC rating for the iPhone (probably the average of the two above)
iPhone 3GS = .79 SAR


+As stated from literature the threshold level for injury is a SAR of 4 W/ KG

+ The FCC will not allow a phone that puts out more than 1.6

After hundreds of scientific studies it was shown that 1.6W/kg of SAR radiation does not cause cellular damage or cancer.

Some studies found reduced oxidation with SAR of 6 W/Kg, but oxidation is not always a good thing ( atherosclerosis is caused by increased oxidation ! )

OP you are wrong, or attention seeking, or trying to sell a product


either way, this qualifies as trolling

Its their own warning!

Maybe you work for Apple! Im not selling anything, are you?

i just care about others people thats all.

If you keep your phone by your bed as a alarm clock.
You will wake between 4-4.30am?

Remove phone you sleep! Wireless disturbed your sleep pattern, not letting you get into final sleep stage.


Phantom text message, Energy spikes.
Look at the extract again Warning from Apple and learn.
but you've made your mind up already.
Its all true what they tell you, its all safe.

There is enough information out there if you are willing to look with a open mind.

Hundreds of tests conducted by phone sponsorship.

 

[TuffLuffJimmy]

If you keep your phone by your bed as a alarm clock.
You will wake between 4-4.30am?

Remove phone you sleep! Wireless disturbed your sleep pattern, not letting you get into final sleep stage.

I sleep with my iPhone; with wifi, bluetooth, and 3G all on, under my pillow and I do not wake up between 4:00 and 4:30 in the morning.

I sleep in until noon on Monday, Wednesday, Friday, Saturday, and Sunday!

 

[VulchR]

OP: Just use your common sense. If you perceive a threat from the iPhone then take action such as holding the phone away from from you. Right now there's just no evidence suggesting a health risk (although there are vanishingly small but detectable effects on the body), but it is true that absence of evidence is not evidence of absence.

As for the rest of you lot who belittled the OP: Actually, I for one had not read Apple's advice and I'm glad it was posted here. Like most of you I am not that worried but as a scientist it bothers me when 'techies' slam others for expressing their concerns about technology. It creates a negative view of both science and engineering among the public, making my job much harder. If you want to influence the public's opinions, provide them with information rather than insulting them. So there.

@Shenaniganz08: Sounds like you know the literature fairly well - perhaps you could point the OP to a meta-analysis. Surely somebody has looked at the research literature and calculated the pooled odds-ratio of an undetected health risk.

 

[androiphone]

that were not changed in substance and accurately reflected what you said. It's not like I can twist your words. Your post was a couple posts above mine for everyone to see.

Way to distract from the argument when you have nothing to argue back with.

you made it out like I was or should be one of thoes creeps who are scared of aliens reading our minds, and then went on to say that it is my fault if I get cancer, when I then clearly said that I carry my phone in my pocket and therefore I'm obvioulsly not that scared of the side effects of the radiation,

if that's not twisting my words then I dont know what is and you were instulting at the same time,
I'm sure you will post back with more insulting comments on my inability to argue back, the size of my little finger nail compared to my knee cap or someting even more irrelevant or derogative