The effect of authentic metallic implants on the SAR distribution of the head exposed to 900, 1800 and 2450 MHz dipole near field.
Virtanen H, Keshvari J, Lappalainen R. · 2007
View Original AbstractMetallic implants can significantly amplify cell phone radiation absorption in head tissues, creating localized exposure hot spots not accounted for in current safety standards.
Plain English Summary
Researchers examined how common metallic implants in the head (like skull plates, bone fixtures, and earrings) affect radiation absorption when exposed to cell phone frequencies. They found that under certain conditions, these metallic implants can significantly increase the amount of electromagnetic energy absorbed by nearby tissues. This matters because millions of people have metallic dental work, surgical implants, or jewelry that could potentially concentrate cell phone radiation in their heads.
Why This Matters
This research highlights a critical safety gap that's been largely overlooked in EMF exposure standards. While regulators focus on average absorption rates across the general population, this study demonstrates that metallic implants can create localized 'hot spots' of concentrated radiation exposure. The reality is that dental fillings, surgical plates, and even earrings are incredibly common, yet safety testing rarely accounts for how these materials interact with cell phone radiation. What this means for you is that current safety limits may not adequately protect people with metallic implants, who could be experiencing significantly higher localized exposures than assumed. The researchers specifically modeled 'worst case' scenarios, but given how ubiquitous both metallic implants and cell phone use have become, these interactions deserve far more attention from both researchers and regulators.
Exposure Information
Specific exposure levels were not quantified in this study. The study examined exposure from: 900, 1800 and 2450
Study Details
In this study, the effect of authentic passive metallic implants in the head region was examined.
A half-wave dipole antenna was used as an exposure source and the specific absorption rate (SAR, W k...
The results indicate that some of the implants, under very rare exposure conditions, may cause a not...
Show BibTeX
@article{h_2007_the_effect_of_authentic_2664,
author = {Virtanen H and Keshvari J and Lappalainen R.},
title = {The effect of authentic metallic implants on the SAR distribution of the head exposed to 900, 1800 and 2450 MHz dipole near field.},
year = {2007},
url = {https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/17301450/},
}