San Francisco Passes Radiation Law From Cell Phones – Retail Posting Required

On Tuesday San Francisco residents passed a law that requires all retailers who sell cell phones to post the amount of radiation the phone gives off. Called SAR, the rating should not exceed 1.6 watts per kilogram according to the FCC, which regulates cell phones. Opponents claim that since there is no scientific evidence that radiation from cell phones is harmful, the law, they state, could hurt business.

A recent news article further states:

Under the law, retailers will be required to post materials — in at least 11-point type — next to phones, listing their specific absorption rate, which is the amount of radio waves absorbed into the cellphone user’s body tissue. These so-called SAR rates can vary from phone to phone, but all phones sold in the United States must have a SAR rate no greater than 1.6 watts per kilogram, according to the Federal Communications Commission, which regulates the $190 billion wireless industry.

But John Walls, a spokesman for C.T.I.A. – The Wireless Association, a trade group, said that forcing retailers to highlight that information might actually confuse consumers into thinking “some phones are safer than others.”

“We believe there is an overwhelming consensus of scientific belief that there is no adverse health effect by using wireless devices,” Mr. Walls said, “and this kind of labeling gets away from what the F.C.C.’s standard actually represents.”

In San Francisco, officials were cautioning that the law was not meant to discourage cellphone use, or sales, rather merely to inform consumers.

There is a simple way to get around this. Buy the phone outside of San Francisco and you won’t have to bother with all of this nonsense! LOL

What do you think? Is a law like this necessary?

Comments welcome.

Source-NY Times