Radiation bureau cautions cordless phone users

Feb 13, 2006, 12:15 GMT

Salzgitter, Germany - People who use cordless phones should keep their conversations to a minimum, Germany's federal bureau for radiation protection (BfS) in Salzgitter recommends.

The BfS also says people who use the phones are advised to put the base station in an area of their home where they do not spend a lot of time. The foyer or entrance is a good example.

The cordless telephones, which commonly use the DECT standard, often are the greatest source of high frequency electromagnetic fields in private homes.

There is no indication that the emissions harm a person's health. But to reduce any possible risk, it's wise to minimize the amount of time spent near them, the BfS says.

The BfS says the maximum amount of radiation allowed from the DECT telephones by the International Commission for the Protection of Non- ionized Radiation is too high.

Experts and the BfS are disturbed that there is no legally required rating for cordless telephones that use the DECT standard. As opposed to cell phones, DECT phones do not regulate their radiation output downward, although this is technically possible.

Base stations and the handset send out the same amount of radiation during a telephone call regardless of the user's distance from the base station. A device has recently come on the market that can regulate the radiation output.