FCC changes position on cell phone radiation and safety guidelines

The Federal Communications Commission has updated its views on cellphone safety in a move criticized by a public interest group for downplaying the potential risks that radio frequencies could pose to users.

The agency, without issuing a press release, made the update on its Web site, saying that its guidelines on radio frequency limits were confusing and did not necessarily show whether one phone is safer than another. Specifically, the FCC revamped its Web entry on cell phone health guidelines, removing a suggestion that users concerned about the radiation emitted from cellphones could choose devices with lower SAR values. SAR stands for "specific absorption rate," which is a measure of the rate of radio-frequency energy absorbed by the body. Scientists say the higher the SAR, the greater the potential danger to humans.

To be sure, scientists do not agree on the effects of cellphone use on humans. Some studies show that radio frequencies absorbed by brain tissue have led to cell mutations and tumors - with the greatest threat posed to children. The Environmental Working Group says the FCC's changes mimic a message pushed by CTIA, the wireless industry lobbying group.