Radiation Risk to Cordless Phone Users

People who use cordless phones should keep their conversations to a minimum, Germany's federal bureau for radiation protection (BfS) in Salzgitter recommends.

The BfS also says people who use the phones are advised to put the base station in an area of their home where they do not spend a lot of time. The foyer or entrance is a good example.

The cordless telephones, which commonly use the DECT standard, often are the greatest source of high frequency electromagnetic fields in private homes.

There is no indication that the emissions harm a person's health. But to reduce any possible risk, it's wise to minimize the amount of time spent near them, the BfS says.

The BfS says the maximum amount of radiation allowed from the DECT telephones by the International Commission for the Protection of Non- ionized Radiation is too high.

Experts and the BfS are disturbed that there is no legally required rating for cordless telephones that use the DECT standard. As opposed to cell phones, DECT phones do not regulate their radiation output downward, although this is technically possible.

About DECT Cordless Telephones

All modern (DECT) digital cordless phones emit the same type of pulsed microwave radiation (about 1.8 GHz) as ordinary (GSM) mobile phones. Emissions can be about 6 V/m within a metre of the base unit, for as long as it is plugged in. These base stations emit their radiation even when the phone is not in use. All DECT base units emit microwaves continuously 24 hours a day as long as they are plugged in. For this reason cordless phones are regarded as bad news. The latest Lennart Hardell paper on mobile phone use and brain tumours (× 3 for 5 years use and × 3 to 4 for 10 years use) also show a dose response increased brain cancer risk for long-term (over 5 years) regular cordless phone use. A DECT phone is a mobile phone, and its base is a mobile phone mast in your house or office. You must use one? Keep the base unit and remote extra handsets away from where you sit or sleep, and remember that you are transmitting into neighbouring property through your walls.

Unlike mobile phones, DECT cordless phones work at a fixed power. Mobiles turn their power down to the lowest level possible, so when you are near a base station this can be much lower than a DECT cordless. DECT pulses are far more aggressive than for mobiles.

Many European researcher, physicians, environmental professionals and toxicologist signed a resolution requesting the immediate stop of the DECT technology. This petition was delivered to the Germany
Environmental Minister Mr. Jürgen Trittin in October of 1999 (RESOLUTION 1999).

The Germany magazine “Oeko-Test” (equivalent to the US magazine Consumer Test) had 16 DECT cordless phones tested, published the measurement results, and rated all phones as not recommendable due to the constant emission of high levels
of pulsed radiation (OEKO-TEST 1999).

Source:Deutsche Presse-Agentur, Tetrawatch, Report:Nonstop Pulsed 2.4 Ghz Radiation Inside Us Homes.

Further reading:

www.electrosensitivity.org.uk/cordless%20phones.htm

Report:Nonstop Pulsed 2.4 Ghz Radiation Inside Us Homes

 
 
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