Technology

Relevant xkcd https://xkcd.com/radiation/

Bananaphones will give you ionizing radiation

You don’t need iodine, this isn’t going to give you radiation sickness, but it is a little surprising.

From a WaPo article:

France’s digital minister said the iPhone 12’s radiation levels are still much lower than those that scientific studies say could harm users, and that a software update could solve the compliance issue. The ANFR itself acknowledges that its tests don’t reflect typical phone use.

Which links to:

https://twitter.com/jnbarrot/status/1701848091689693576 (translated)

The @anfr found that the iPhone 12 was emitting a level of waves slightly higher than the authorized threshold.
This level is more than 10 times lower than the level at which there could be a health risk.
But the rule is the rule: Apple must comply.

https://twitter.com/jnbarrot/status/1701852521247965686 (translated)

The wave levels that smartphones emit can vary during a software update. It is undoubtedly because of an update after its release that the iPhone 12 exceeded the authorized threshold. And it's a simple update that will bring it back into compliance.

https://www.anfr.fr/maitriser/equipements-radioelectriques/le-debit-dabsorption-specifique-das/das-reel-/-das-mesure-maximal (translated)

The classic conditions of use: the real DAS

Laboratory measurements do not reflect what happens during the usual use of the device. Indeed:

• for voice communication, the phone statistically emits only about 50% of the time, the phone does not emit when listening; in addition, the average duration of a communication is less than 3 minutes;
• for data-oriented use (internet or video), the durations of use are certainly longer; but the phone, which generally receives more information (videos, emails...) than it sends, rarely emits more than 10% of the time during the session;
• the value of the DAS displayed in the points of sale corresponds to a precise frequency (e.g. 800 MHz) and technology (e.g. 4G) for which the maximum has been detected; but, in reality, the phone does not work permanently under these conditions: it often changes frequency or technology;
• Finally, for all uses, the phone rarely emits at its maximum power, due to constant interactions with the network to best adapt to its conditions.

The real SAR therefore does not often coincide with the maximum SAR.

As the DAS is proportional to the power emitted by the telephone, it is possible to evaluate the actual DAS by measuring the power put into play by the terminal. This can be evaluated thanks to professional software installed on consumer phones