[ Log In ]
[ Register ]

Question #: 266

Question: ARE THERE PRODUCTS AVAILABLE TO THE GENERAL PUBLIC THAT CAN BE PURCHASED PROTECT CELLULAR OR PORTABLE TELEPHONE USERS FROM RADIATION? IF SO, WHERE THESE FOUND?

Current Solution

There are a number of opportunistic gadgets on the market to allegedly protect the user from hazards of cellular phones. You can search the Internet to find the latest, ranging from antenna shields to whole-body shielding materials. Most experts believe that these devices take advantage of customers' misunderstanding and unfounded fears to sell products with no real value. First of all, cell phones that operate within the guidelines established by national and international safety panels have never been shown to pose a health risk to the user (see answers to other questions on cell phone safety on this website). Secondly, placing any kind of shield over the antenna of a cell phone will in most cases cause it to increase its RF output as it attempts to compensate for signal loss in the shield and maintain a quality phone call. The U.S. Food and Drug Administration published an advisory on cell phones several years ago that said if you are concerned about risks of using a cell phone, then simply use it less. That is still good advice today. Gary Zeman, ScD, CHP Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory

Additional Information:



Additional Information:

Respond:

Other Possible Solutions to this Question

  • HAVE THERE BEEN ANY STUDIES OF POSSIBLE RADIATION DANGER FROM HEADSETS USED WITH HANDSETS CORDED TELEPHONES? I A TELEPHONE BATTERY-POWERED HANDSET. THIS HANDSET HAS JACK FOR HEADSET, SO YOU CAN WALK AROUND THE HOUSE AND YARD ON YOUR BELT WHILE TALK INTO HEADSET. EITHER OR HEADSET GIVING OFF RADIATION, LIKE CELLULAR PHONE? DANGEROUS AMOUNT RADIATION?

    Headsets have been tested by the manufacturers and meet the current ANSI/IEEE standards for RF safety, the same standards that the Federal Communications Commission enforces under the Telecommunications Act of 1996. These standards place limits on the specific absorption rate (SAR) of radiofrequency (RF) energy in the body. Recent inflamatory articles in British press were not substantiated by testing in ISO-accredited testing facilities at Motorola. Manufacturers of cellular phones are required under FCC regulations to assure that their products meet the SAR limits on both hand-held and hands-free units. Further information may be available from the FDA or from the FCC. Ron Petersen, Lucent C.K. Chou, Motorola

    Click the link to add information to this solution:
    HAVE THERE BEEN ANY STUDIES OF POSSIBLE RADIATION DANGER FROM HEADSETS USED WITH HANDSETS CORDED TELEPHONES? I A TELEPHONE BATTERY-POWERED HANDSET. THIS HANDSET HAS JACK FOR HEADSET, SO YOU CAN WALK AROUND THE HOUSE AND YARD ON YOUR BELT WHILE TALK INTO HEADSET. EITHER OR HEADSET GIVING OFF RADIATION, LIKE CELLULAR PHONE? DANGEROUS AMOUNT RADIATION?

  • I PURCHASED YOUR BOOK TO BUILD A CNC ROUTER, THE PLAN DRAWINGS ARE INDECIPHERABLE AND TEXT WITH THEM IS ILLEGIBLE. THERE NOTE REFER MDF PARTS LAYOUT 1 PDF, 2 PDF PLANS & CUT LIST DOWNLOADABLE FROM THIS SITE. WHERE THEY CAN'T FIND THEM?

    Looks like you are trying to screw me out of $30 plus tax as there will be no pdf files forthcoming unless I shell out another $255. Unless you provide the pdf files I will be forced to seek return of funds and will be notifying VISA, GOOGLE PLAY and the BBB doing so until I get satisfaction. If you are not going to honor your book title by providing complete usable information you should remove your book from the market place, or offer it for free. At this point I don't know how you justify screwing your customers like this, but this one ain't going to take it laying down.

    Additional Information:
    Official Buildyourcnc response:
    Thanks for informing us of this issue. Have you looked at this part of the wabsite:
    https://www.buildyourcnc.com/Book.aspx

    The link to the "book" portion of the website is in the footer of every page of the website. If there is a problem with the pdf documents on any page of this portion of the website, please let me know here. Many thanks, Patrick Hood-Daniel

    Click the link to add information to this solution:
    I PURCHASED YOUR BOOK TO BUILD A CNC ROUTER, THE PLAN DRAWINGS ARE INDECIPHERABLE AND TEXT WITH THEM IS ILLEGIBLE. THERE NOTE REFER MDF PARTS LAYOUT 1 PDF, 2 PDF PLANS & CUT LIST DOWNLOADABLE FROM THIS SITE. WHERE THEY CAN'T FIND THEM?

  • THERE´S A CELLULAR PHONE ANTENNA ON THE ROOF OF BUILDING RIGHT OPPOSITE MY WINDOW, LEVEL ABOUT TEN METERS ABOVE HEAD. AM I LIKELY TO BE IN RADIUS RADIATION?

    You will have to contact the cell phone company that operates that particular antenna to obtain the radiation pattern (or emission pattern) of that particular type of antenna. Different models of antennae have different emission patterns to provide coverage of different size and shape geographical areas. For example, many of the antennae are directional, only broadcasting in the forward direction. Most emit very little radiation in the upward and downward directions, although the vertical extent of the beam can be quite different for different antennas. Some are strongly focussed on the horizon, others provide better coverage of nearby areas. Many antennae only broadcasting into a defined geometrical sector of the horizion, often 120 degrees so that three sets of antennae are required to cover the entire horizon. Therefore, to find the type of radiation pattern broadcast by any particular antenna will require local information from the equipment operator. Gary Zeman, ScD

    Click the link to add information to this solution:
    THERE´S A CELLULAR PHONE ANTENNA ON THE ROOF OF BUILDING RIGHT OPPOSITE MY WINDOW, LEVEL ABOUT TEN METERS ABOVE HEAD. AM I LIKELY TO BE IN RADIUS RADIATION?

  • HOW DO YOU CALCULATE THE ENERGY OF PHOTONEUTRONS PRODUCED THROUGH INTERACTION WITH 7.5 MEV BREMSSTRAHLUNG FROM A LINAC? TARGET GENERAL COMMERCIAL PRODUCTS IN TRUCKS.
  • WE ARE ALWAYS CONCERNED THAT THERE WON'T BE ENOUGH VACCINE TO VACCINATE OUR PATIENTS IN THE FALL. WHAT CAN DO ASSURED WE'VE DONE ALL POSSIBLY AVOID THIS TYPE OF SITUATION?

    It is never too early to begin planning for the coming fall's influenza vaccination program. The most important thing you can do initially is to place your order for vaccine from your usual source. Some manufacturers often stop taking pre-orders in mid-May. Be sure to include vaccine for pediatric patients needing two doses and also for your facility's healthcare workers as part of your overall campaign.

    Click the link to add information to this solution:
    WE ARE ALWAYS CONCERNED THAT THERE WON'T BE ENOUGH VACCINE TO VACCINATE OUR PATIENTS IN THE FALL. WHAT CAN DO ASSURED WE'VE DONE ALL POSSIBLY AVOID THIS TYPE OF SITUATION?

  • AM STRUGGLING TO DOWNLOAD THE LINUX EMC2 FREEWARE. MY GET INTERRUPTED AT LAST MINUTE. IS THERE ANOTHER WAY OR PLACE WHERE COULD MAYBE TRY IT FROM?

    You should use the linuxcnc.org site and click on the download menu item. They have an EU mirror as the main download option.

    Click the link to add information to this solution:
    AM STRUGGLING TO DOWNLOAD THE LINUX EMC2 FREEWARE. MY GET INTERRUPTED AT LAST MINUTE. IS THERE ANOTHER WAY OR PLACE WHERE COULD MAYBE TRY IT FROM?

  • HOW MUCH RADIATION GIVEN OFF BY A CELL PHONE AND THERE ANY WAY TO STOP THE FROM BEING ABSORBED INTO YOURSELF?

    Portable cell phones emit about 0.6 watts of radiofrequency energy, limited primarily by the power of the battery. As with any radiofrequency transmitter, there will be some amount of absorption in the human body; the amount depends on how close you are to the antenna. The Federal Communications Commission (FCC) limits the amount of radiofrequency energy which cell phones can deposit in the body to levels at which no health effects are to be expected. See an article on Cell Phone Safety on this website for more information.

    Gary H. Zeman, ScD, CHP

    Click the link to add information to this solution:
    HOW MUCH RADIATION GIVEN OFF BY A CELL PHONE AND THERE ANY WAY TO STOP THE FROM BEING ABSORBED INTO YOURSELF?

  • WHILE RESEARCHING A NEW CORDLESS PHONE TECHNOLOGY (DECT [DIGITAL ENHANCED TELECOMMUNICATIONS] 6.0), I SAW REFERENCE TO POTENTIAL BRAIN DAMAGE AND/OR CANCER DUE THE RADIATION FREQUENCY AND PULSES FROM THESE DEVICES.

    There has been a lot of public concern around the world about potential health effects from using mobile phones. This concern has spilled over to other cordless phone technologies and indeed to many other devices that transmit radiofrequency energy.
    Scientists have been studying possible health and biological effects of radiofrequency energy since World War II and even before, and the literature at this point is very large. Since the 1990s many studies have been conducted on possible health effects of mobile phones. I am not aware of any studies that have searched for possible health effects of DECT phones specifically, but DECT phones operate in a generally similar frequency band and at similar average power levels as many mobile phones.

    Health agencies around the world have repeatedly examined the scientific literature and have found no clear evidence of health effects from use of mobile phones, or indeed from any exposures to radiofrequency energy at levels below international exposure guidelines. But these agencies also point out the limitations to the data (for example, lack of data regarding long-term use of mobile phones) and they all call for more research. The most recent report on this subject is by a group affiliated with the Health Protection Agency of the United Kingdom (U.K.) (http://www.mthr.org.uk/documents/MTHR_report_2007.pdf).

    Some activist groups (such as the one whose website you cited) claim that there are health hazards from mobile phones and other sources of radiofrequency energy at levels below international exposure limits. Such claims are not reflected in opinions of health agencies including the U.K. Health Protection Agency, the World Health Organization, and other major health agencies.

    That said, if a person is concerned about possible health effects of a cordless or mobile phone, he or she might consider using a hands-free kit (which reduces exposure to the head) or simply not use such a phone at all.

    Kenneth R. Foster, Professor
    Department of Bioengineering

    Click the link to add information to this solution:
    WHILE RESEARCHING A NEW CORDLESS PHONE TECHNOLOGY (DECT [DIGITAL ENHANCED TELECOMMUNICATIONS] 6.0), I SAW REFERENCE TO POTENTIAL BRAIN DAMAGE AND/OR CANCER DUE THE RADIATION FREQUENCY AND PULSES FROM THESE DEVICES.

  • I'M SEARCHING FOR INFORMATION ABOUT THE HEALTH RISKS OF CELLULAR ANTENNAS' RADIATION. I NEED SCIENTIFIC (SCIENTIFIC PAPERS IN JOURNALS) THIS.

    Cellular telephone base stations are low-powered radiofrequency (RF) transmitters which operate at around 850-900 or 1800-1900 MHz (depending on the technology and region of the world). RF energy in a similar frequency range is used by many other technologies such as microwave ovens, UHF television, other communications systems, and radar. Health and safety issues related to RF energy have been studied for many years and there is an immense literature on the subject. Here are some sources that review health and safety issues related to RF energy from cellular base stations.

    A fact sheet published by the World Health Organization. There is also a Spanish version available on the WHO EMF website.
    Also see the IEEE EMBS Committee on Man and Radiation Report. Other reports are available through its website.
    The International Commission on Nonionizing Radiation Protection (ICNIRP) has published a lot on health and safety of RF energy. See its website. The ICNIRP published an article that describes the ICNIRP exposure limits for RF energy and their scientific rationale. See "Guidelines for Limiting Exposure to Time-Varying Electric, Magnetic, and Electromagnetic Fields (up to 300 GHz)," Health Physics Vol. 74, No 4, pp 494-522, 1998.
    A very detailed assessment of the scientific evidence related to health and safety of mobile telephones and base stations is in the recent (May 2000) report by the Independent Expert Group on Mobile Phones (IEGMP) titled "Mobile Phones and Health" This study concludes "the balance of evidence to date suggests that exposures to RF radiation at levels below [international exposure guidelines] do not cause adverse health effects to the general population" but that "there may be biological effects at exposures below those guidelines." Public exposure to RF energy from cellular base stations is invariably far below the ICNIRP exposure guidelines.

    Kenneth R. Foster
    Professor, Bioengineering
    University of Pennsylvania

    Click the link to add information to this solution:
    I'M SEARCHING FOR INFORMATION ABOUT THE HEALTH RISKS OF CELLULAR ANTENNAS' RADIATION. I NEED SCIENTIFIC (SCIENTIFIC PAPERS IN JOURNALS) THIS.

  • I NEED HELP IN GATHERING PUBLISHED INFORMATION ABOUT THE RISKS POSED BY CELL TOWERS PLACED ON SCHOOL GROUNDS. THERE WHICH WOULD ENABLE ME TO GATHER/CALCULATE OR MEASURE RADIATION SPECIFIC SITE?

    The best single reference is the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) Website. Look for:
    Bulletin 56, "Questions and Answers about Biological Effects and Potential Hazards of Radiofrequency Electromagnetic Fields,"

    Bulletin 65, "Evaluating Compliance With FCC Guidelines for Human Exposure to Radiofrequency Electromagnetic Fields,"

    "A Local Government Official's Guide to Transmitting Antenna RF Emission Safety: Rules, Procedures, and Practical Guidance."
    An excellent technical paper with field measurements of cell-tower emissions was published by R.C. Petersen and P.A. Testagrossa in the journal Bioelectromagnetics, volume 13, page 527ff, 1992. If you need onsite technical support and services there are various consultants available, such as Richard Tell Associates, Inc. Gary Zeman, ScD, CHP Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory

    Click the link to add information to this solution:
    I NEED HELP IN GATHERING PUBLISHED INFORMATION ABOUT THE RISKS POSED BY CELL TOWERS PLACED ON SCHOOL GROUNDS. THERE WHICH WOULD ENABLE ME TO GATHER/CALCULATE OR MEASURE RADIATION SPECIFIC SITE?

  • HEY ! I HAVE PURCHASED A VFD WITH MATCHING SPINDLE 1.5KW AND CONTROL PROGRAM UCCNC. MY INTERFACE CARD IS DB25, THE QUESTION HOW DO CONNECT TO DB25 SO THAT CAN SPEED UCCNC? SINCERELY "CNC BEGINNERS"

    Identify the Control Signals: First, determine which control signals from the DB25 interface card are used for spindle speed control. Typically, these are PWM (Pulse Width Modulation) signals or analog voltage signals.

    VFD Configuration: Your VFD should be configured to accept the type of control signal your DB25 card provides. This involves setting parameters in the VFD that correspond to the type of input signal it will receive for speed control.

    Wiring: Connect the appropriate output pins from the DB25 card to the input terminals on the VFD. This usually involves connecting the PWM or analog output to the corresponding input on the VFD. Make sure to consult the manuals for both your VFD and interface card for specific wiring details.

    UCCNC Settings: Configure UCCNC to output the correct type of signal (PWM or analog) that matches your VFD's configuration. This is done through the software's spindle setup section.

    Test and Adjust: Run some tests to ensure that the spindle speed is being correctly controlled by UCCNC. You might need to tweak settings in either the VFD or UCCNC for optimal performance.

    Click the link to add information to this solution:
    HEY ! I HAVE PURCHASED A VFD WITH MATCHING SPINDLE 1.5KW AND CONTROL PROGRAM UCCNC. MY INTERFACE CARD IS DB25, THE QUESTION HOW DO CONNECT TO DB25 SO THAT CAN SPEED UCCNC? SINCERELY "CNC BEGINNERS"

  • I WOULD LIKE TO KNOW IF THERE IS A STORE OR SHOP WHERE CAN SEE THE PRODUCT AND BUY IT?

    If you are located near Houston, Texas area you can stop by our shop. If you are not near us, you can check in our forums, and see if you can find someone in your area that has one of our machines, and would be willing to let you come see it in action.

    Click the link to add information to this solution:
    I WOULD LIKE TO KNOW IF THERE IS A STORE OR SHOP WHERE CAN SEE THE PRODUCT AND BUY IT?

  • LIMIT SWITCHES FOR AXIS. THE PRINT SHOWS THAT YOU CAN WIRE LIMITS EITHER N.O. OR N.C. SO IF THIS IS CORRECT I WOULD NEED TO TELL BOARD IN SOFTWARE HOW LOOK AT THESE LIMITS, I'M GOING GET AN INPUT LOOSE DEPEND ON IT.

    BYCNC Response:
    This is correct. You will need to use a method appropriate for the software you are using. Also remember that NC switches are typically wired in series, while NO switches are normally wired in parallel.

    User Response:
    I am using the cnc planet software for your USB board. Are the limit configurations in this software?

    BYCNC Response:
    Yes, Planet CNC software is compatible with the use of limit switches. Configuration information will depend on your specific application. You can view Planet CNC's information here: http://www.planet-cnc.com/files/CNCUSBController.pdf

    Click the link to add information to this solution:
    LIMIT SWITCHES FOR AXIS. THE PRINT SHOWS THAT YOU CAN WIRE LIMITS EITHER N.O. OR N.C. SO IF THIS IS CORRECT I WOULD NEED TO TELL BOARD IN SOFTWARE HOW LOOK AT THESE LIMITS, I'M GOING GET AN INPUT LOOSE DEPEND ON IT.

  • ARE LIVING QUARTERS IMMEDIATELY BELOW ROOF-TOP CELLULAR TELEPHONE ANTENNA/TRANSMITTERS HAZARDOUS?

    There is very little radiofrequency (RF) energy exposure to people inside a building from a cellular base station located on its roof. There are several reasons for this. First, the transmitters operate at low power levels. Second, the antennas are normally mounted near the edges of the roof and are aimed away from the building. Third, most cellular transmitters use "high gain" or panel antennas. Such antennas transmit most of their energy in a narrow beam (in the vertical direction) from their front surfaces, away from the building. They radiate very little energy downwards towards the roof or backwards from their rear surfaces. Finally, building materials absorb a significant fraction of the RF energy passing through them. As a result, the RF signal levels at any location inside the building are invariably low and far below safety limits. The situation might be different in some locations on the roof itself. RF signal levels close to (within a few feet) and directly in front of cellular base station antennas can easily exceed safety limits. Some precautions are needed to prevent people from walking directly in front of the antennas while they are transmitting. This applies also to paging and other systems that use rooftop antennas, some of which transmit at higher power levels than many cellular base stations. Kenneth R. Foster, Ph.D.

    Click the link to add information to this solution:
    ARE LIVING QUARTERS IMMEDIATELY BELOW ROOF-TOP CELLULAR TELEPHONE ANTENNA/TRANSMITTERS HAZARDOUS?

  • I purchased a USB Breakout board, motors and drivers, paid for CNC USB Controller Software and I CAN NOT "Slave" an axis, but there is an option to do that. The moment I connect USB Breakout Board "Slave" option becomes shaded and I can no longer select it (becomes not functional). What is going on? Need help asap. Thanks

    I would not recommend slaving an axis using the method of taking an additional axis from the USB interface. Instead, wire both drivers to a single axis on the USB interface. This will insure perfect signal output to both drivers. If you requre the motors to spin in opposite directions, simply wire one of the motors to the driver reversing the coil A and B connections, or use a hex inverter (https://www.buildyourcnc.com/tutorials/Tutorial-Two-Motors-Spinning-Oppositely-On-Single-Axis).

    Click the link to add information to this solution:
    I purchased a USB Breakout board, motors and drivers, paid for CNC USB Controller Software and I CAN NOT "Slave" an axis, but there is an option to do that. The moment I connect USB Breakout Board "Slave" option becomes shaded and I can no longer select it (becomes not functional). What is going on? Need help asap. Thanks

  • ARE THERE STILL VIDEOS THAT CAN WATCH AS PUT THIS TOGETHER, I'LL BUY THEM IF HAVE TO, VERY FUSTURATED WITH ELECTROCTICS AND WIRING PART.
  • IT MORE DANGEROUS STAY FOR ONE HOUR AT A TEN-METER DISTANCE FROM CELLULAR ANTENNA OR TALK INTO PHONE THE SAME AMOUNT OF TIME?

    Cellular phones are designed to be safe for both the user and anyone standing nearby. Cellular phones are actually small radios that transmit signals to and from base-station antennas located on towers or buildings in the nearby neighborhood. Cellular phones use low-power radio signals, even weaker than CB, police, or fire radios.

    The American National Standards Institute (ANSI) sets safety standards for human exposure to radiofrequency (RF) electromagnetic energy in the United States. Government agencies such as the Federal Communications Commission (FCC), the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA), and many states recognize and accept the ANSI RF safety standard. Also, the United States standard for RF energy is comparable to those set in other countries.

    Cellular phones and cellular-phone base stations have been shown to meet these RF safety standards. Safety standards for RF energy are threshold standards. Threshold standards define the level of RF energy above which there may be health or safety hazards and below which there have been no reported harmful effects. Unlike ionizing radiation, which many people believe to act cumulatively even at small exposure levels, RF energy at low levels is not considered a cumulative hazard. Therefore the consensus of scientific experts in this area is that RF exposure from cellular phones, meeting the threshold levels set in safety standards, is safe for all.

    The specific answer to the question is that cellular phone technology is safe for all. There is no danger posed by either handheld phone units or by base-station antennas. In both cases, the radio signals transmitted from the antennas are required to meet the ANSI safety standard for RF safety as embodied in FCC regulations governing this technology. For more information:

    The FCC has recently revised and reissued its Bulletin 56 on Questions and Answers about Biological Effects and Potential Hazards of Radiofrequency Electromagnetic Fields.

    OSHA provides information and links to more sites on RF safety at its Web page, Radiofrequency/Microwave Radiation.

    Gary Zeman, ScD, CHP Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory

    Click the link to add information to this solution:
    IT MORE DANGEROUS STAY FOR ONE HOUR AT A TEN-METER DISTANCE FROM CELLULAR ANTENNA OR TALK INTO PHONE THE SAME AMOUNT OF TIME?

  • I PURCHASED A VFD AND SPINDLE FROM FRIEND, HIS SET UP IS 220. DON'T HAVE 220 IN MY SHOP. QUESTION CAN USE YOUR 110 WITH THIS SPINDLE??

    Depending if the spindle can work with this specific VFD, it might be possible. However we would not like to risk you working unit, with a possible match so we would like more details on your specific model and any information available on the spindle itself.

    Response
    The only info on the spindle is 2.2KW 400HZ 220V. Made by Zhong Hua Jiang.

    Was originally on a Delta C200 vfd. That is 220 single phase.

    Click the link to add information to this solution:
    I PURCHASED A VFD AND SPINDLE FROM FRIEND, HIS SET UP IS 220. DON'T HAVE 220 IN MY SHOP. QUESTION CAN USE YOUR 110 WITH THIS SPINDLE??

  • IT LIKELY THAT CELLULAR PHONE USAGE COULD EFFECT A CHANGE IN 400 MHZ NMR SPECTROMETER'S MAGNET IF HAS DECENT SHIELDING (TOP-OF-THE-LINE SHIELDING, CA. 1992)?

    Some electronic equipment has been shown to be sensitive to radiofrequency interference from cell phones. I suggest you talk with the manufacturer of the spectrometer for information about it.

    Gary H. Zeman, ScD, CHP

    Click the link to add information to this solution:
    IT LIKELY THAT CELLULAR PHONE USAGE COULD EFFECT A CHANGE IN 400 MHZ NMR SPECTROMETER'S MAGNET IF HAS DECENT SHIELDING (TOP-OF-THE-LINE SHIELDING, CA. 1992)?

Get Help with:
This Product
Orders
Tech Support
Sales
This Product
Order Query
Tech Support
Sales
Not logged in. Log In Register
Track Order(s)
View Order(s)
I Want to Schecule a One-On-One Paid Tech Support Session
Book an Appointment Pertaining to a BuildYourCNC Product (Free)
Ask a Quesion Below (Free):
Book an Appointment Pertaining Other Equipment ($60/half hour)
Book an Immedite Appointment Pertaining Other Equipment ($120/half hour)
Ask a Quesion Below (Free):
Waiting for response... I may not answer immediately, but I was notified on my cellular phone so my response is forthcoming. If I don't respond immediately, you can always go to the [My Account] page to see all of our chats at any time.