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SAR / Device Absorption

Analysis of mobile phone design features affecting radiofrequency power absorbed in a human head phantom.

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Kuehn S, Kelsh MA, Kuster N, Sheppard AR, Shum M. · 2013

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Service technology caused the largest variation in compliance test SARs, but time-averaged antenna input power is the dominant factor for SARs during actual phone use.

Plain English Summary

Summary written for general audiences

Researchers measured SARs in phantoms with mobile phones operating at maximum antenna input power to evaluate design factors such as shape, antenna design, communication technology, and test date over a 7-year period. Service technology accounted for the greatest variability in compliance test SARs, ranging from AMPS highest to GSM lowest. The dominant factor for SARs during use is the time-averaged antenna input power, which may be much less than the maximum power used in testing. Phone shape, antenna type, and orientation were significant but only up to a factor of 2, and SAR in the tilt position was significantly smaller than in the touch position. External antennas produced greater SARs than internal ones, and brick and clamshell phones produced greater SARs than slide phones.

Why This Matters

The GSM phone average output can be higher than CDMA by a factor of 100, illustrating how communication systems define time-averaged power. The side of the head did not affect SAR levels significantly. Descriptive statistical summaries for 850 MHz and 1900 MHz phones and ANOVA were used to evaluate the influence of these factors on SARs.

Exposure Information

A logarithmic frequency spectrum from 10 Hz to 100 GHz showing where this study's 850 MHz - 1.90 GHz exposure sits relative to common EMF sources.Where This Frequency Sits on the EMF SpectrumELFVLFLF / MFHF / VHFUHFSHFmm10 Hz100 GHzThis study: 850 MHz - 1.90 GHzPower lines50/60 Hz5G mm28 GHzLogarithmic scale

Specific exposure levels were not quantified in this study. The study examined exposure from: 850 MHz and 1900 MHz

Study Details

These test data, measured in phantoms with mobile phones operating at maximum antenna input power, permitted us to evaluate the variation in SARs across mobile phone design factors such as shape and antenna design, communication technology, and test date (over a 7-year period).

Descriptive statistical summaries calculated for 850 MHz and 1900 MHz phones and ANOVA were used to ...

Service technology accounted for the greatest variability in compliance test SARs that ranged from A...

Cite This Study
Kuehn S, Kelsh MA, Kuster N, Sheppard AR, Shum M. (2013). Analysis of mobile phone design features affecting radiofrequency power absorbed in a human head phantom. Bioelectromagnetics. 2013 Mar 26. doi: 10.1002/bem.21784.
Show BibTeX
@article{s_2013_analysis_of_mobile_phone_2313,
  author = {Kuehn S and Kelsh MA and Kuster N and Sheppard AR and Shum M.},
  title = {Analysis of mobile phone design features affecting radiofrequency power absorbed in a human head phantom.},
  year = {2013},
  
  url = {https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/23533135/},
}
PubMed: 23533135

Cited By (12 papers)

Quick Questions About This Study

The study evaluated shape, antenna design, communication technology, and test date over a 7-year period.
AMPS produced the highest compliance test SARs, while GSM produced the lowest among the technologies tested.
The dominant factor for SARs during use is the time-averaged antenna input power, which may be much less than the maximum power used in compliance testing.
SAR in the tilt position was significantly smaller than in the touch position.
The side of the head did not affect SAR levels significantly.