Volume-averaged SAR in adult and child head models when using mobile phones: a computational study with detailed CAD-based models of commercial mobile phones.

This Nokia-funded study challenges the widespread assumption that children automatically absorb more cell phone radiation than adults simply due to their smaller head size. While the finding of no systematic SAR differences between age groups might seem reassuring, it actually highlights a more troubling reality: the enormous variability in radiation absorption based on phone design means consumers have no reliable way to predict their exposure levels. The research demonstrates that generic safety testing using simplified antenna models cannot accurately represent real-world exposures from commercial devices. What this means for you is that SAR ratings on phones may not reflect the actual energy your head absorbs, and the protection you think children have from lower SAR phones may be largely illusory depending on the specific device design.