Cellphones and their use have come a long way in 16 years. But
federal safety standards havent budged. Reason enough, according
to the Government Accountability Office, to reassess how much
radio frequency energy mobile phones should be allowed to emit.
The 46-page report, released Monday, offers no new concerns
about phone safety. It also acknowledged that a newer European
standard is looser than the U.S. standard set in 1996. U.S.
phone tests, on the other hand, may not reflect how consumers
use cellphones, the GAO report said. Specifically, tests dont
look at how much radio frequency energy exposure a user receives
when cellphones are used directly against the body. For example,
some consumers keep the device in a pocket while using an ear
device. Newer phones fit more easily in a pocket than those
manufactured 16 years ago. They also actively connect to
wireless networks even when no phone calls come in. Theyre
connecting all the time so there may be some emissions coming
from the phone all the time if yo