On Aug. 7, 1996, the FCC created guidelines on cell phone radiation (RF) exposure with input from the Food and Drug Administration (FDA), the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH), and the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA).
The guidelines created a measure of the rate that body tissue absorbs radiation energy during cell phone use called the specific absorption rate (SAR). The SAR for cell phone radiation was set at a maximum of 1.6 watts of energy absorbed per kilogram of body weight. The limit was set due to the thermal effects of cell phone radiation (all RF radiation can heat human body tissue at high enough levels) - it was not set to mitigate other biological effects cell phone radiation might have such as DNA damage or cancer.
The FCC SAR limit is based upon a cell phone call that averages 30 minutes when the cell phone is held at the ear. SAR levels for cell phones sold in the US range from a low of 0.19 to the maximum of 1.58. Holding a phone away from the body or using a wired earpiece lowers the amount of radiation absorbed, and text messaging rather than talking, further lowers that amount.
The following two charts list the top 20 highest and lowest SAR levels for cell phones sold in the United States. The list provides the maximum possible SAR level from the phone (many phones have differing SAR levels depending on where and how the phone is used). If your phone is not on either list, you can find the SAR level for your specific phone by checking the online FCC database.
Top 20 Highest Radiation Cell Phones (maximum possible SAR level from phone)
Cell phone brand and type
SAR level
1.
RIM Blackberry Curve 9310
1.58
2.
Motorola Razr HD
1.56
2a.
Motorola Droid Razr Maxx HD
1.56
4.
Nokia Astound
1.53
5.
RIM Blackberry Curve 9350
1.5
6.
Nokia Lumia 900
1.49
7.
Motorola Defy XT
1.48
7a.
HTC Trophy
1.48
9.
Motorola Atrix 4G
1.47
9a.
RIM BLackberry Curve 9360
1.47
11.
ZTE Score M
1.45
11a.
ZTE Score
1.45
11b.
Motorola Drois Razr
1.45
11c.
Motorola Droid Razr Maxx
1.45
15.
RIM Blackberry Torch 9810
1.44
16.
Samsung Rugby Pro
1.42
17.
ZTE T-Mobile Concord
1.38
17a.
RIM Blackberry Bold 9930
1.38
19.
Motorola Atrix HD
1.34
20.
Motorola Droid Razr M
1.3
Top 20 Lowest Radiation Cell Phones (maximum possible SAR level from phone)
Cell phone brand and type
SAR level
1.
Samsumg Galaxy Note (T-Mobile)
0.19
2.
Samsum Galaxy Note (Unlocked)
0.27
3.
Samsung Galaxy S II Skyrocket
0.3
4.
Kyocera DuraXT
0.328
5.
Huawei Impulse 4G
0.34
6.
Samsung Focus Flash
0.35
6a.
Samsung Galaxy II
0.35
8.
Samsung Galaxy Beam
0.36
8a.
Samsung Galaxy S II
0.36
10.
Pantech Swift
0.386
11.
Samsung Jitterbug Plus
0.4
11a.
Samsung Epic 4G Touch
0.4
11b.
Jitterbug Plus
0.4
14.
Kyocera DuraMax
0.41
14a.
Samsung Gusto 2
0.41
16.
Samsung Galaxy Appeal
0.42
16a.
LG Enlighten
0.42
18.
HTC One V
0.455
19.
LG Optimus Vu
0.462
20.
Samsung Galaxy S Relay 4G
0.47
Note: Given their popularity, we have also provided the SAR levels for the Apple iPhone.
Model
SAR level
Carrier
Apple iPhone 5
1.18
AT&T
Apple iPhone 4S
1.11
Sprint Nextel
Apple iPhone 4S
1.11
Verizon Wireless
Apple iPhone 4S
1.11
AT&T
Apple iPhone 4
1.18
Virgin Mobile
Apple iPhone 4
1.18
Verizon Wireless
Apple iPhone 4
1.17
AT&T
Apple iPhone 3GS
0.79
AT&T
Apple iPhone 3G
1.38
AT&T
Apple iPhone
0.974
AT&T
Source: Lynn La and Kent German, "Cell Phone Radiation Levels," www.reviews.cnet.com, Oct. 29, 2012
Find Your Phone: FCC Database on cell phone radiation (SAR) levels
The FCC maintains a database that includes the SAR - radiation absorption - levels for every certified cell phone sold in the United States.
You can find the SAR for your individual cell phone by typing the FCC ID number of your cell phone into the FCC database available here: http://www.fcc.gov/oet/ea/fccid
From the FCC website: "The FCC ID number is usually shown somewhere on the case of the phone or device. In many cases, you will have to remove the battery pack to find the number. Once you have the number proceed as follows. Go to the following Web address: www.fcc.gov/oet/ea/fccid. Once you are there... Enter the FCC ID number (in two parts as indicated: 'Grantee Code' is comprised of the first three characters, the 'Equipment Product Code' is the remainder of the FCC ID). Then click on 'Start Search.' The grant of equipment authorization for this particular ID number should appear. The highest SAR values reported in the equipment certification test data are usually included in the comments section of the grant of equipment certification."
