SF to require posting of cell phone emission levels

[Analog]

San Francisco moved a step closer Tuesday to becoming the first city in the nation to require that retailers post in their stores notices on the level of radiation emitted by the cell phones they offer.
The Board of Supervisors voted 10-1 to give preliminary approval to the proposal. Final approval is expected next week. Supervisor Sean Elsbernd was the lone vote in opposition. Mayor Gavin Newsom, an early proponent of the legislation, plans to sign it into law when it reaches his desk.
Cast by backers as a pro-consumer measure, the ordinance would not ban the sale of certain cell phones but would require retailers to provide the "specific absorption rate" - a measurement of radiation registered with the Federal Communications Commission - next to phones displayed in their shops. Consumers also would be notified about where they can get more educational materials.
"This is about helping people make informed choices," said Supervisor Sophie Maxwell, chief sponsor of the legislation.
But a trade group for the cell phone industry said the law could lead to confusion.
"Rather than inform, the ordinance will potentially mislead consumers with point-of-sale requirements suggesting that some phones are 'safer' than others, based on radio frequency emissions," John Walls, vice president of public affairs for the Cellular Telecommunications and Internet Association, said after the vote. "In fact, all phones sold legally in the U.S. must comply with the Federal Communication Commission's safety standards for (radio frequency) emissions."


http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?file=/c/a/2010/06/16/MNIT1DVPKE.DTL

 

[Fingolfin269]

Informed choices? How many people even know what the information means?

 

[Phoenix86]

Cell phone companies should pack up and move outside city limits.

 

[tk149]

California - proof that even fruitcakes deserve a home.

Encouraging faux-science and fostering hysteria is not the proper function of government.

http://www.fda.gov/ForConsumers/ConsumerUpdates/ucm212273.htm
excerpt

Do the radio waves that cell phones emit pose a threat to health?
Although research is ongoing, the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) says that available scientific evidence—including World Health Organization (WHO) findings4 released May 17, 2010—shows no increased health risk due to radiofrequency (RF) energy, a form of electromagnetic radiation that is emitted by cell phones.
FDA also cites a separate National Cancer Institute program finding that, despite the dramatic increase in cell phone use, occurrences of brain cancer did not increase between 1987 and 2005.

 

[swanysto]

I hope it does, cause I want all those soccer moms with their phones glued to their heads to die so I don't have to deal with them on the road.

 

[ShockwaveVT]

cell phones are harmless to humans, they only fuck up bees
everyone knows this

 

[Patranus]

 

[geno]

Make damn sure the same rules are applied to microwaves and smoke detectors!

 

[Patranus]

The real question is will they also tell me how much of that radiation is blocked by my tinfoil hat?

 

[gorcorps]

FUCK
that
state

 

[dpearson]

You get radiation from sunlight too. I think there should be warnings posted everywhere about that too.

 

[OutHouse]

Informed choices? How many people even know what the information means?

people will just look for the lowest number and buy. I see this turning into a nice marketing niche.

"buy our phone our radiation levels are the lowest of any phone made!"

 

[Moonbeam]

This law is a crime. Nobody that I know here will use a cell phone because of the radiation. Now gullible folk are going to think they will be safe using ones with lower numbers. We will be marching on city hall to protest this.

"Cell phones must be banned

It doesn't matter what the brand

The radiation they emit into your brain

Will slowly cause you to go insane.

Cast the phones into a pit of molten lead

Before the nation goes completely brain dead."

This is our chant.

 

[Jadow]

The govt in SF has too much time on their hands. Passing these protest resolutions decrying Israel, etc... How does that help the people of SF? Also this cell phone crap? total junk science.

Sure glad I don't live there.

 

[D1gger]

My local cell phone supplier told me after reading this that he was offering a tin foil hat now with every phone sold. It was dual purpose as it also blocks aliens trying to beam thoughts into your head.