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SAR / Device Absorption

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.

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Keshvari J, Heikkilä T. · 2011

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Phone design matters more than head size for radiation absorption, making current SAR safety ratings potentially misleading.

Plain English Summary

Summary written for general audiences

Researchers used detailed computer models of real Nokia phones to compare how much radiofrequency energy (SAR) is absorbed by children's versus adults' heads during phone calls. They found no systematic differences between child and adult SAR levels when using the same phone model, but discovered that the specific phone design and antenna structure are the most important factors determining energy absorption patterns.

Why This Matters

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.

Exposure Information

A logarithmic frequency spectrum from 10 Hz to 100 GHz showing where this study's 900 MHz - 1.95 GHz exposure sits relative to common EMF sources.Where This Frequency Sits on the EMF SpectrumELFVLFLF / MFHF / VHFUHFSHFmm10 Hz100 GHzThis study: 900 MHz - 1.95 GHzPower lines50/60 Hz5G mm28 GHzLogarithmic scale

Specific exposure levels were not quantified in this study. The study examined exposure from: 900 MHz, 1747 MHz and 1950 MHz

Study Details

The objective of this study was to investigate the SAR difference in the head of children and adults using realistic EMF sources based on CAD models of commercial mobile phones.

Four MRI-based head phantoms were used in the study. CAD models of Nokia 8310 and 6630 mobile phones...

The main finding of this study was that the SAR distribution/variation in the head models highly dep...

The general conclusion is that from a volume averaged SAR point of view, no systematic differences between child and adult heads were found.

Cite This Study
Keshvari J, Heikkilä T. (2011). 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. Prog Biophys Mol Biol. 107(3):439-442, 2011.
Show BibTeX
@article{j_2011_volumeaveraged_sar_in_adult_2275,
  author = {Keshvari J and Heikkilä T.},
  title = {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.},
  year = {2011},
  
  url = {https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/22005524/},
}
PubMed: 22005524

Cited By (8 papers)

Quick Questions About This Study

A 2011 study using detailed Nokia phone models found that specific phone design and antenna structure are the most critical factors determining radiation absorption patterns. The phone model matters more than whether you're a child or adult using it.
Research comparing 900 MHz, 1747 MHz and 1950 MHz frequencies found that antenna design and phone structure influence absorption patterns more than frequency alone. Generic radiation models cannot predict real device exposures across different frequencies.
Scientists used detailed CAD-based models of commercial Nokia phones to measure radiation absorption and found they provide more accurate results than generic models. Real device structure significantly affects how radiation distributes in head tissue.
A computational study revealed that antenna structure and positioning within the phone are the primary factors determining radiation absorption patterns in both adult and child head models, not anatomical differences between users.
Research demonstrates that SAR values from generic source models cannot be extrapolated to real device exposures. Each phone's specific antenna design and internal structure creates unique radiation absorption patterns that generic testing misses.