by Nina Schretr, 60millions-mag.com, 23 octobre 2019 - translation
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| iStock/Kristina Jovanovic |
Updated 25 October 2019
The [French] Government reacts to the publication of the ANSES report
The government has just announced that it will soon meet with mobile phone manufacturers to update the software of models placed on the market before the current standard was implemented.
The National Frequencies Agency (ANFR) will also strengthen the control of phones in 2020.
The government also undertakes to ask the European Commission to ensure that device certification tests are now carried out in contact with the body, as recommended by ANSES, and no longer at 5 mm as is currently the case.
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Some smartphones released before June 2017 are still in the pocket and emitting too many waves. This is what the National Health Security Agency (ANSES) judged in an opinion published on 21 October 2019.
"A significant number of phones that comply with the previous regulations and are still in use have high levels of exposure when placed close to the body," the Agency says.
The phone placed 0.5 cm from the body
ANSES examined the subject following the publication by the National Frequencies Agency (ANFR) of tests carried out on nearly 400 phones between 2012 and 2016.
At the time, ANFR had taken into account the new uses of mobile phones, carried closer to the body. In particular, it had measured the specific absorption rate (SAR, the wave exposure indicator) at 0.5 cm from the body, whereas the regulations provided for measurements at a maximum of 2.5 cm.
Since then, measurements have had to be made at a maximum of 0.5 cm, as provided for in the European RED directive.
Radiation in excess of the regulatory limit
Based on the results of ANFR, we identified 18 models that do not comply with the current standard (to which they are not subject). Their SAR exceeds the regulatory limit of 2 watts per kilogram (W/kg) at 0.5 cm from the trunk.
We have detailed them in the list below. It should be noted that ANFR does not test all mobiles, and that other models are therefore potentially concerned.
Product updates or recalls?
ANSES recommends that manufacturers update the software of the devices concerned, so that they can reduce their SAR, or organize their recall with consumers.
Such measures have already been taken for newer devices that exceeded the regulatory threshold, as we report in our article "Too Many Waves! The list of smartphones caught at fault"
Biological effects on animals
The excess of waves is indeed not insignificant. In their report, the experts commissioned by ANSES analysed the scientific literature on the subject in order to assess the health and biological risks associated with exposure above 2 W/kg.
In the absence of robust human studies, they have relied on recent, but small, in vivo studies in rodents and cell cultures.
They conclude that a SAR greater than 2 W/kg can lead to "biological effects, in particular on brain activity".
More than 200 models could be updated as a precaution
Admittedly, this evidence remains "limited" in terms of scientific robustness. But in the light of its three previous reports, ANSES recommends applying the precautionary principle.
The Agency adds that the measurements to verify the compliance of mobile phone SARs, to be more realistic, should be made in contact with the body and not at 0.5 cm. Based on this criterion, more than 200 phones tested by ANFR exceed 2 W/kg...
What about toys and tablets?
Finally, the authors extend their recommendations to other radiofrequency emitting devices, including toys and tablets.
It remains to be seen how these proposals will be addressed. When contacted, ANFR and the Ministry of Economy were unable to provide us with any information on this subject.
The list of models concerned
According to tests by the National Frequencies Agency, 18 telephone models would have too high a SAR if the current standard were applied.
However, manufacturers have since been able to update the software on their devices to ensure that they do not exceed a SAR of 2 W/kg at 0.5 cm from the trunk. Finally, it should be noted that other mobile phones, not tested by ANFR, are probably concerned.
Blackberry: Q10 and Z10
Fees: 7 Premium Gold and X5
Huawei: Ascend G300 and P9 (EVA-L09)
HTC: One SV
Lazer: Smartphone 3.0
Motorola: Motoluxe and Razr i
Nokia: Lumia 520
Orange: Neva 80 (ZTE Blade V770)
Polaroid: Pro 881A
Samsung: Wave Y GT-S5380
SFR: StarTrail 2
Sony: Xperia E5 F3311 PM-0960-BV; Xperia S Citizy LT26i; Xperia T3
Original article in French:
https://www.60millions-mag.com/2019/10/23/pres-du-corps-certains-smartphones-emettent-trop-d-ondes-16923
"A significant number of phones that comply with the previous regulations and are still in use have high levels of exposure when placed close to the body," the Agency says.
The phone placed 0.5 cm from the body
ANSES examined the subject following the publication by the National Frequencies Agency (ANFR) of tests carried out on nearly 400 phones between 2012 and 2016.
At the time, ANFR had taken into account the new uses of mobile phones, carried closer to the body. In particular, it had measured the specific absorption rate (SAR, the wave exposure indicator) at 0.5 cm from the body, whereas the regulations provided for measurements at a maximum of 2.5 cm.
Since then, measurements have had to be made at a maximum of 0.5 cm, as provided for in the European RED directive.
Radiation in excess of the regulatory limit
Based on the results of ANFR, we identified 18 models that do not comply with the current standard (to which they are not subject). Their SAR exceeds the regulatory limit of 2 watts per kilogram (W/kg) at 0.5 cm from the trunk.
We have detailed them in the list below. It should be noted that ANFR does not test all mobiles, and that other models are therefore potentially concerned.
Product updates or recalls?
ANSES recommends that manufacturers update the software of the devices concerned, so that they can reduce their SAR, or organize their recall with consumers.
Such measures have already been taken for newer devices that exceeded the regulatory threshold, as we report in our article "Too Many Waves! The list of smartphones caught at fault"
Biological effects on animals
The excess of waves is indeed not insignificant. In their report, the experts commissioned by ANSES analysed the scientific literature on the subject in order to assess the health and biological risks associated with exposure above 2 W/kg.
In the absence of robust human studies, they have relied on recent, but small, in vivo studies in rodents and cell cultures.
They conclude that a SAR greater than 2 W/kg can lead to "biological effects, in particular on brain activity".
More than 200 models could be updated as a precaution
Admittedly, this evidence remains "limited" in terms of scientific robustness. But in the light of its three previous reports, ANSES recommends applying the precautionary principle.
The Agency adds that the measurements to verify the compliance of mobile phone SARs, to be more realistic, should be made in contact with the body and not at 0.5 cm. Based on this criterion, more than 200 phones tested by ANFR exceed 2 W/kg...
What about toys and tablets?
Finally, the authors extend their recommendations to other radiofrequency emitting devices, including toys and tablets.
It remains to be seen how these proposals will be addressed. When contacted, ANFR and the Ministry of Economy were unable to provide us with any information on this subject.
The list of models concerned
According to tests by the National Frequencies Agency, 18 telephone models would have too high a SAR if the current standard were applied.
However, manufacturers have since been able to update the software on their devices to ensure that they do not exceed a SAR of 2 W/kg at 0.5 cm from the trunk. Finally, it should be noted that other mobile phones, not tested by ANFR, are probably concerned.
Blackberry: Q10 and Z10
Fees: 7 Premium Gold and X5
Huawei: Ascend G300 and P9 (EVA-L09)
HTC: One SV
Lazer: Smartphone 3.0
Motorola: Motoluxe and Razr i
Nokia: Lumia 520
Orange: Neva 80 (ZTE Blade V770)
Polaroid: Pro 881A
Samsung: Wave Y GT-S5380
SFR: StarTrail 2
Sony: Xperia E5 F3311 PM-0960-BV; Xperia S Citizy LT26i; Xperia T3
Original article in French:
https://www.60millions-mag.com/2019/10/23/pres-du-corps-certains-smartphones-emettent-trop-d-ondes-16923
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