Healthcare Technology Featured Article

July 28, 2010

Healthcare Technology and News: Will Cell Phones Carry Mandatory Radiation Labeling?


Is it constitutional for the government to require that mobile phones carry labels with radiation information?

We'll find out pretty soon -- according to The Register, the cellular trade body The CTIA is "challenging a San Francisco ordinance that requires radiation labels on every mobile phone sold, claiming that such a rule breaches the US constitution."

The ordinance passed last month requires buyers to be informed "at the point of sale" about the radioactive properties of different mobile phones, The Register explains, adding that "the CTIA reckons that requirement undermines the FCC's (national) rulings and is thus unconstitutional – states can't go around overruling federal bodies."

PCWorld's Jared Newman is a bit too subtle and undecided on his take on the law: "It's a good thing the CTIA is suing San Francisco over an inane law that will publicize cell phone radiation levels in stores, because this a rare case where more information is too much."

It appears Newman has a good reason for his bile: "When it comes to disclosing things that might kill you, California already has a TMI problem, as I've discovered in my two years of living in Los Angeles. Sometimes, when you walk into an apartment, a big sign in the lobby announces that the residence is loaded with chemicals known to cause cancer. Ditto with seemingly innocuous household products, leading to a moment of crisis when my wife and I shopped for pots and pans; apparently that non-stick material can be your undoing."

With experience like that you can understand Newman's attack of hives:

"Most of California's cancer hysteria comes from Proposition 65, a 1986 law that mandates warning labels for anything containing chemicals known to cause cancer. Like San Francisco's cell phone radiation law, it's worthless information to the casual consumer. Should I abstain from buying non-stick cookware? Should I retreat from the supposedly chemical-ridden apartment building? Of course not. California's warnings become noise, and I've learned to tune them out."


David Sims is a contributing editor for HealthTechZone. To read more of David’s articles, please visit his columnist page. He also blogs for HealthTechZone here.

Edited by Erin Monda
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