Cell Phone Radiation Fears Motivate SF Law

San Francisco's Board of Supervisors has approved a new law requiring cell phone retailers to post the amount of radiation emitted from their phones.
     
Tuesday's voted was 10-1 to approve an ordinance requiring stores to disclose the specific absorption rate, or SAR, of each phone they sell.

Mayor Gavin Newsom backs the measure and is expected to sign it within 10 days.  When he does, It will be the first of its kind in the country.

Opponents say the city is responding to unfounded concern over cell phone radiation.

Whether or not the radiation produced by cell phones causes cancer or other health problems is still a matter of debate among scientists.

Advocates say they hope the labels will dissuade consumers from buying higher-radiation phones until the science is clearer.
     
Whoever is right, the numbers will likely lead to confusion because there is so much debate, even among experts, about whether cell phones can be harmful.

If you doubt that a cell phone has any radiation, but it next to your computer for awhile and see how quickly you notice the invisable waves making an impact on your work.

Copyright AP - Associated Press
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