iPhone 12 radiation: Can smartphones be a health hazard? Here's what we know
Produced by: Tarun Mishra
Designed by: Mohsin
In September 2023, French regulators issued an order for Apple to halt the sale of iPhone 12 due to the device failing tests related to electromagnetic waves, raising concerns about emissions surpassing European Union radiation exposure standards. Apple has contested the French National Frequency Agency's (ANFR) findings, asserting that the iPhone 12 complies with global radiation standards, as certified by numerous international organisations
France vs Apple
ANFR also conducted assessments on 141 mobile phones available in France, including the iPhone 12. ANFR has urged Apple to take immediate action to rectify the non-compliance issue, warning that failure to do so could lead to the recall of already-sold iPhone 12 units
ANFR demands compliance
The US Food & Drug Administration (FDA) in November 2022 said that cell phones emit low levels of non-ionising radiation when in use. The type of radiation emitted by cell phones is also referred to as radio frequency (RF) energy. As stated by the National Cancer Institute, "there is currently no consistent evidence that non-ionising radiation increases cancer risk in humans. The only consistently recognised biological effect of radio-frequency radiation in humans is heating."
Are Cell Phones Really
Harmful?
The FDA's team of physicians, scientists, and engineers consistently reviews scientific studies and publishes research to assess any potential health effects related to exposure to radio frequency energy emitted by cell phones. Over the course of nearly three decades, scientific evidence has failed to establish a link between cell phone use and health issues, including cancer
What Does the
Research Say?
In addition to scrutinising scientific literature, the FDA actively monitors and analyses public health data regarding cancer rates within the U.S. population. This data unequivocally reveals that there has been no widespread increase in the incidence of brain and other nervous system cancers over the past 30 years, despite the significant surge in cell phone usage during this period
Public Health Data Analysis
World Health Organisation (WHO) in October 2014 said that mobile phones function as low-powered radio-frequency transmitters, with operational frequencies ranging from 450 to 2700 MHz and peak power outputs typically within the 0.1 to 2-watt range. However, in France, during simulated tests where the iPhone 12 was held or kept in a pocket, ANFR found a Specific Absorption Rate (SAR) of 5.74 watts per kilogram. The European Union's SAR standard for such tests is set at 4 watts per kilogram
Specific Absorption
Rate (SAR)
According to WHO, there is no conclusive evidence linking mobile phone use to any adverse health effects. However, they have said that in the short term, the primary mode of interaction between radio-frequency energy and the human body is tissue heating. When mobile phones operate within their designated frequencies, the majority of the energy is absorbed by the skin and superficial tissues, resulting in an insignificant increase in temperature within the brain or other bodily organs
WHO’s View
Several research investigations by WHO have explored the impact of radio-frequency fields on various aspects of health, including brain electrical activity, cognitive function, sleep patterns, heart rate, and blood pressure in volunteers. To date, the collective body of research does not indicate consistent evidence of detrimental health effects stemming from exposure to radio-frequency fields, especially when the levels are below those that induce tissue heating
No Consistent Evidence
Even though Apple stated that it submitted laboratory results from both its own research and third-party sources to demonstrate compliance and challenged ANFR's findings, Germany's network regulator expressed its intention to examine radiation concerns about Apple's iPhone 12 for the German market should France's investigation progress. Belgium's junior minister for the digital economy is planning to request the telecoms regulator to assess potential health risks associated with the iPhone 12