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SAR / Device Absorption165 citations

Variation of the dielectric properties of tissues with age: the effect on the values of SAR in children when exposed to walkie-talkie devices.

No Effects Found

Peyman A, Gabriel C, Grant EH, Vermeeren G, Martens L · 2009

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Children and adults absorb similar radiation levels from walkie-talkies despite age-related tissue changes, but this doesn't address other childhood vulnerabilities.

Plain English Summary

Summary written for general audiences

Researchers measured how tissue properties change with age in pigs and used this data to calculate radiation absorption (SAR) in children using walkie-talkies. They found that while tissue properties do change significantly with age - mainly due to decreasing water content - these changes don't meaningfully affect how much radiation children absorb compared to adults when using walkie-talkie devices.

Exposure Information

A logarithmic frequency spectrum from 10 Hz to 100 GHz showing where this study's 50 MHz - 20 GHz exposure sits relative to common EMF sources.Where This Frequency Sits on the EMF SpectrumELFVLFLF / MFHF / VHFUHFSHFmm10 Hz100 GHzThis study: 50 MHz - 20 GHzPower lines50/60 HzCell phones~1 GHzWiFi2.4 GHz5G mm28 GHzLogarithmic scale

The study examined exposure from: 50 MHz-20 GHz

Study Details

In vitro dielectric properties of ageing porcine tissues were measured in the frequency range of 50 MHz-20 GHz, and the total combined uncertainties of the measurements were assessed.

The results show statistically significant reduction with age in both permittivity and conductivity...

Cite This Study
Peyman A, Gabriel C, Grant EH, Vermeeren G, Martens L (2009). Variation of the dielectric properties of tissues with age: the effect on the values of SAR in children when exposed to walkie-talkie devices. Phys Med Biol. 54(2):227-241, 2009.
Show BibTeX
@article{a_2009_variation_of_the_dielectric_3304,
  author = {Peyman A and Gabriel C and Grant EH and Vermeeren G and Martens L},
  title = {Variation of the dielectric properties of tissues with age: the effect on the values of SAR in children when exposed to walkie-talkie devices.},
  year = {2009},
  
  url = {https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/19088390/},
}
PubMed: 19088390

Cited By (165 papers)

View all 165 citing papers on Semantic Scholar

Quick Questions About This Study

No, walkie-talkies don't affect children differently than adults in terms of radiation absorption. A 2009 study measuring tissue properties found no significant differences in SAR values between children aged 3-7 years and adults when using walkie-talkie devices, despite age-related changes in tissue composition.
Research suggests walkie-talkies pose similar radiation exposure for children and adults. A study by Peyman and colleagues found that while children's tissues have different properties than adult tissues, this doesn't translate to meaningfully different radiation absorption rates when using walkie-talkie devices.
Age changes your tissue properties but doesn't significantly affect radiation absorption from devices like walkie-talkies. Research shows that while tissue water content decreases with age, creating measurable differences in electrical properties, these changes don't meaningfully impact how much RF energy your body absorbs.
Current research indicates walkie-talkies don't pose special risks to children's developing bodies. A 2009 study found that despite significant age-related changes in tissue properties, children don't absorb meaningfully different amounts of radiation compared to adults when using these devices.
SAR levels for children using walkie-talkies are similar to adult levels. Research measuring tissue properties across ages found no significant differences in specific absorption rates between children (ages 3-7) and adults, even though younger tissues have different electrical characteristics due to higher water content.