Smartphone manufacturer Apple and Samsung have been sued because of a report that claims their smartphones emits harmful radio frequency (RF) exposure. The class-action suit was filed against both the companies in the US District Court for the Northern District of California over alleged damages and problems related to RF exposure.
According to a report by appleinsider, the case takes issue with marketing materials that claim the products operate within regulated guidelines, with neither company issuing warnings about potential negative health effects related to the allegedly high RF emissions.
“Numerous recent scientific publications, supported by hundreds of scientists worldwide, have shown that RF radiation exposure affects living organisms at levels well below most international and national guidelines,” the filing reads. “Effects include increased cancer risk, cellular stress, increase in harmful free radicals, genetic damages, structural and functional changes of the reproductive system, learning and memory deficits, neurological disorders, and negative impacts on general well-being in humans.”
As per the suit, Apple’s iPhone 7 Plus, iPhone 8 and iPhone X and Samsung’s Galaxy S8 and Galaxy Note 8 were found to be releasing radio-frequency radiation exposure. The legal suit depends on the results of the test done by an independent study RF Exposure Lab on behalf of the Chicago Tribune.
As per the complaint previously Apple declared RF exposure information that also includes Specific Absorption Rate (SAR), for public viewing. In addition to this, the company also provided recommended the closest distance at which a user should carry the smartphone. The complaint also mentioned that with the release of iPhone 7 the company stopped providing the information.
In its defense, the company stated that “were inaccurate due to the test setup not being in accordance with procedures necessary to properly assess the iPhone models.”
“All iPhone models, including iPhone 7, are fully certified by the FCC and in every other country where iPhone is sold,” the company added. “After careful review and subsequent validation of all iPhone models tested in the (Tribune) report, we confirmed we are in compliance and meet all applicable exposure guidelines and limits.”
According to the FCC guidelines, Specific Absorption Rate (SAR) is an amount of the of RF energy absorption by the body from the source being measured for a cell phone. FCC said, “Many people mistakenly assume that using a cell phone with a lower reported SAR value necessarily decreases a user’s exposure to RF emissions, or is somehow ‘safer’ than using a cell phone with a high SAR value,”
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