Apple Warnings: Apple Says iPhones and Devices Are Dangerous: Know The Injury and Exposure Facts
Published: 9/4/2023
Apple warns us that our cellphones are dangerous. We need to handle the battery correctly, charge them correctly, and put enough distance between them and our bodies in order to use them safely.
I know many of you have known for years - cellphones and smartphones are wrought with concern and so you treat them like the machines that they are.
But most people believe that if the smart phones in our hands and our pockets were really something to worry about, surely someone would tell us.
Well, Apple is warning us loud and clear about how important it is you use cellphones carefully and mindfully.
Here's what Apple says: Failure to follow these safety instructions could result in fire, electric shock, injury, or damage to iPhone or other property.
Here's how you could get injured using an iPhone, Apple Watch, iPad or Computer:
- Charging your phone when there's moisture around or your hands are wet
- Putting it under your pillow or sleeping with with while you charge could cause it to overheat, causing discomfort or injury
- Damage to the battery could cause overheating or fire
- Holding a phone, putting it in a pocket, using a metal case or putting an Apple Watch up to your face could cause you to exceed the FCC exposure limits
- Using Apple devices or Mag Safe could interfere with a medical device
- Using an iPhone if you have certain medical conditions could affect you with symptoms such as seizures, blackouts, eyestrain, or headaches
- Using bad chargers or broken chargers or non-compliant chargers or charging around certain chemicals could cause electric shock or injury and even more concerning - using a non-Apple USB power supply could pose risk of death says Apple.
Don't use a dropped, damaged or broken phone. When the battery gets damaged there's a chance of fire or explosion!
This is pretty serious... There's a recent video showing an iPhone catching fire spontaneously. Many believe it was the result of a broken battery.
NEVER, EVER Put Your Phone In your Pocket, in Hands or your Apple Watch Near Your Face!
Read the warning below. This one's for the iPhone 14. Keep in mind that "SAR" standard is all about heat and how much our bodies can handle from a device. This outdated standard was instituted in the 90's, well before we had the boat load of research on how wireless EMF can cause biological harm in ways that have very little to do with SAR.
My interpretation of the warning is that Apple is basically saying this:
iPhone is tested to make sure it doesn't exceed the FCC regulations for SAR. The FCC accepts that heating our body's tender tissues can cause damage, so it puts limits on how much cellphones can heat our heads and our hands and our bodies and still be acceptable. In order for this iPhone to pass the acceptable level of SAR we had to keep it 5 mm or 1/4" away from the torso. If you want to use your phone safely, don't let it touch your body and don't put it in your bra or your pocket.
We test, like everyone else does, and the only requirement the FCC has regarding wireless energy is that it doesn't heat your body. They don't ask us to analyze how much wireless radiation penetrates skin and the effect it might have on your cells or your biology. We've written this warning about SAR because we had to disclose that the phone puts out too much energy to meet the limits when it's touching your body. We also want to be on record that there are things you can do like use speaker phone, headphones and avoid metal cases in order to get away from your device and to lessen the chance that you can have even more EMF radiation exposure when it bounces off of metal.
Here's Apple's Warning - Read on to find out to how to see the distance disclosure for your iPhone, Apple Watch or Computer:
Specific Absorption Rate (SAR) refers to the rate at which the body absorbs RF energy. The SAR limit is 1.6 watts per kilogram in countries that set the limit averaged over 1 gram of tissue, and 2.0 watts per kilogram in countries that set the limit averaged over 10 grams of tissue. During testing, iPhone radios are set to their highest transmission levels and SAR is evaluated in real time, over time intervals as specified by applicable regulations. iPhone is evaluated in positions that simulate uses against the head, with no separation, and when worn or carried against the torso of the body, with 5mm separation.
Apple uses the latest approved regulatory methods adopted in the industry for testing and managing device radios to meet RF exposure limits. These methods track radio usage and RF exposure in real time and manage power to ensure that the iPhone complies with applicable RF exposure limits.
To reduce exposure to RF energy, use a hands-free option, such as the built-in speakerphone, headphones or other similar accessories. Cases with metal parts may change the RF performance of the device, including its compliance with RF exposure guidelines, in a manner that has not been tested or certified.
Although this device has been tested to determine RF exposure compliance in each band of operation, not all bands are available in all areas. Bands are dependent on your service provider’s wireless and roaming networks.
So if a cellphone isn't safe enough to touch your body, you probably shouldn't be holding or touching your phone.
IMPORTANT TAKEAWAY:
Our smartphones are so fun, enticing and enchanting theses days--it's easy to forget they are electronic machines. I refer to mine as a Personal Radiation Device because honestly it emits far too much EMF for me when it's powered on.
RF radiation from wireless is real!
It's emitted by at least 3 antennas in the form of Bluetooth, WiFi and cellular radiation. Newer phones can have over six antennas. The newest smartphones even have a a new type of radiation: the high spectrum millimeter wave. YIKES!
Apple also warns that your Apple Watch should never be used within 1/2 inch of your face! When it comes to SAR and RF exposure, here's the warning about the latest watch in "Warnings" section on the Apple website:
"When placing Apple Watch near your face, keep at least 10mm of separation to ensure exposure levels remain at or below the as-tested levels."
Here's how to find your cellphone radiation disclaimer or warning on iPhone:
-
Go to Settings
-
Scroll down to General
-
Click on About
-
Choose Legal
-
Choose RF Exposure
Instead of calling it “radio frequency radiation” they refer to it as “RF energy” which simply means man-made EMF exposure.
You can also visit the Apple RF Warning Page to find the distance levels Apple recommends for each device.
Using a stylus is a safe and easy way to keep 5 millimeters
between you and your phone while using it!
Are You Concerned That Your Phone Is Leaking Too Much Radiation To Hold it in your hand?
I certainly am! You see, I'm sensitive to the invisible EMF radiation coming from the phone to the point that I can feel it. In a moment, I'll share some of the research on health effects and expert recommended levels of EMF exposure, but first I want to share some ideas on how you can avoid potentially harmful EMF radiation exposure that comes with your smartphone:
A few years ago, Chicago Tribune did extensive lab testing on popular smartphones and they confirmed - Most Smartphones today give off too much radiation, even when using the FCC's generous standards for cellphone emissions.
Is Your Phone Putting Out More Than the FCC Approved Level of Radiation?
The Chicago Tribune story said the answer is "yes" if you have any of these popular phones: iPhone 7, iPhone 8, iPhone 8 Plus and iPhone X (all are above the FCC limits). Samsung Galaxy S9, S8 and J3 all failed to stay underneath the FCC SAR limits as well. SAR, or Specific Absorption Rate, is a measure of how much the device heats body tissue. It's a standard that has been in place since the very early days of the cell phone industry. Some scientists have argued that it isn't a particularly good way to measure the real-life use of a smartphone. These results are significant because the phones exceed the generous FCC standards by significant amounts in some cases.
Some Folks Were So Mad They SUED!
Just days after the news of these tests broke, a class action lawsuit was filed against Apple and Samsung saying that because of the high levels of RF radiation, all 12 defendants said they were damaged and now at risk for problems associated with RF radiation exposure like "increased cancer risk, cellular stress...genetic damages, learning and memory deficits, neurological disorders..."
The Suit Claims Apple And Samsung Tricked People Into Thinking Cellphones Are Safe
I read through the lawsuit and they point out things that Tim Cook said when he announced the latest iPhone that made it sound nice and safe...
"iPhone has become one of the most important, world-changing and successful products in history. It's become more than a constant companion. iPhone is truly an essential part of our daily lives and enables much of what we do in our daily lives."
On a side note, Tim's right about smartphones being our constant companions. But that's really not always a great thing. I hope you'll check out some very interesting strategies for keeping brain fog and digital dementia at bay.
The suit notes that both Samsung and Apple have commercials showing people lying in bed with their phones and Samsung shows a pregnant woman holding the phone to her belly. (Eeek!!!)
They note that several years ago, Apple used to warn iPhone buyers that phones should not be held against the body. Read: don't touch that phone. And certainly don't talk on it with the phone touching or close to your head; and don't put it in your bra or pocket. If you have to carry a smartphone, do so in Airplane Mode.
And that's actually true. Here's a video we did in 2016. Here you'll notice that Apple recommends that you can reduce exposure using a hands-free option or a wired headset.
The truth is Dr. George Carlo led the most important research to date proving that cellphone radiation was dangerous 25 years ago.
The Wireless Technology Research or WTR remains the most seminal work on the topic of adverse health effects and cell phone use. The WTR was founded in 1993 by CTIA, and back then the acronym stood for Cellular Telecommunications Industry Association, but now this trade organization just goes by CTIA and represents the U.S. wireless communications industry.
Dr. George Carlo headed this research project which resulted in the findings of genetic damage to human blood, increased risk of brain neuroepithelial tumors in those who use cell phones on the side of the head where their tumors were found, and increased risk of acoustic neuroma with increasing minutes of phone use. When Dr. Carlo announced his findings with letters of warning to the major Telecoms, including AT&T, he was dismissed from his position and disparaged. I have found Dr. Carlo to be incredibly wise and helpful on EMF radiation and the biological effects.
So the fact that cellphone manufacturers have yet to make cellphones safer makes me very sad. It's up to us to protect ourselves. The industry has demonstrated that their mission is not to protect our health and well being.
You Can Make Your Personal Radiation Device (aka Smartphone) Safer:
How do you eliminate some or all of the radiation? What's the absolute number one best way to eliminate exposure? I do this by using Airplane Mode and disabling Bluetooth and WiFi. The phone can still be a camera, an alarm clock and a music player even in Airplane Mode.
Eliminate The Radiation While Carrying Your Phone In Style:
You can also put your device in a Faraday Bag and a great hack is to create a wired connection for your phone.
Keep Distance: I feel best a minimum of 8" to 10" from phones - 2' to 5' feet is optimal. I carry the phone in my bag or case with a strap. I'm LOVING this phone leash that works with any case!
Distance Your Digits: I recommend touching and texting with a non-wireless stylus pen which will give you 3" of EMF dissipation
Distance Between The Phone and Your Beautiful Brain: Use our favorite Safertech air-tube headphones or speaker mode when making a call and put the phone as far from your body as possible.
And Here's Why It's Lovely To Maintain A Healthy Distance:
Devra Davis from the Environmental Health Trust reminds us that for every millimeter closer we are to a device's antenna, we receive a higher exposure of radiation.
And I like to remember that this higher radiation at the antenna doesn't just apply to our phones, manufacturers have the similar "disclaimers" for tablets, laptops and even WiFi routers.
Apple’s RF Exposure (by product)
Apple Products - Legal RF Exposure
In the report below from 2017, CBC also noticed the "secret inside your cellphone" disclaimer and took us behind-the-scenes as they show how testing is done. They show how levels of SAR increased 3 to 4 times higher when the phones were tested to simulate exposures right up against our bodies. 
Scientists and Experts Have Concerns About the Safety Of Being Exposed To RF Radiation:
The iPhone and Galaxy phone owners in the lawsuit believe radiation is dangerous (and science is confirming it) and that this artificial RF radiation is harming our bodies.
This is an international SAR exposure crisis. Although, as we noted above, August did a video 3 years ago noting the disclosure she found online that Apple admitted that in order to maintain the levels under the SAR ratings, the iPhone was placed away from the body. The French government had completed testing of their own and was sued to disclose their findings. Just like the Chicago Tribune testing, in something called Phonegate, the results of 8 phones we're over the limit!
The easiest way for me to explain is that we are electromagnetic in nature--and as such our body's energy is affected by the electromagnetic energy in our environment. I like to think of this energy as just one more pollutant, toxin or irritant in our environment that's messing with my body's energy.
Epidemiologist, Tech Wellness Expert, and author Dr. George Carlo has been studying this type of EMF RF (radio frequency energy) for decades and he tells us this about cellphone and WiFi radiation exposure,
"The health effects aspect is complicated. There is now no doubt scientifically that radio waves carrying information trigger some type of biological response in almost everyone exposed. However, what happens after the triggering is variable. For some people, the triggering causes debilitating biological cascades that manifest as EHS, other symptoms and frankly, disease."
No Fear - Practice Mindfulness. That's our mantra here at Tech Wellness. Our Wireless Guide has more detailed information on electromagnetic radiation and Wireless RF. It also includes more ideas for living healthy and balanced, while still staying connected. Our goal is to facilitate maintaining health while people access the benefits of emerging technology.
So what's a smart woman to do? We have two videos that demonstrate how easy it is not to carry or touch the phone. Really.
I would love to hear if either of these lovely options work for you!
A phone leash to carry your phone without touching it:
A stylus so you can scroll and text without touching the phone:
- The stylus pens are easy to handle, just like a normal ballpoint pen.
- Touch tips have a smaller surface area than most fingers, which improves accuracy. This is especially helpful if you have large fingers.
- A stylus pen is always clean, and leaves no oily stains or smudges on the screen from using your fingers.
- Helpful if you’re wearing gloves, you have long nails, or if you’re worried about germs.
- They helps with visibility as they block less of your screen view.
- Much better for handwriting, signing digital documents, or drawing.
Want to know e v e r y t h i n g? Read our Wellness Guide to EMF, Electrosmog and RF Radiation and you may also enjoy the definitive guide to electro-sensitivity or EHS.
We all want our family and friends to be safer, so please share this video and article. Our mission is to empower you to live a safer, healthier, more secure and more balanced relationship in our digital world.
More information and related links in our Research center.
Many people wonder which particular phone has the lowest SAR level. As I said earlier, SAR really isn't the optimal way to evaluate the safety of the phone, but here are some SAR levels if you want to compare:
iPhone X
Model A1865
1.6 W/kg (over 1 g) SAR Limit
Head: 1.09
Body: 1.17
2.0 W/kg (over 10 g) SAR Limit
Head: 0.87
Body: 0.97
Model A1902
1.6 W/kg (over 1 g) SAR Limit
Head: 1.12
Body: 1.19
2.0 W/kg (over 10 g) SAR Limit
Head: 0.93
Body: 0.99
iPhone 11
Model A2221
1.6 W/kg (over 1 g) SAR Limit
Head: 1.09
Body: 1.18
2.0 W/kg (over 10 g) SAR Limit
Head: 0.95
Body: 0.99
Model A2223
1.6 W/kg (over 1 g) SAR Limit
Head: 1.14
Body: 1.17
2.0 W/kg (over 10 g) SAR Limit
Head: 0.95
Body: 0.99
iPhone 12 Mini Model A2398
Model A2176
1.6 W/kg (over 1 g) SAR Limit
Head: 1.16
Body: 1.09
2.0 W/kg (over 10 g) SAR Limit
Head: 0.98
Body: 0.99
Model A2398
1.6 W/kg (over 1 g) SAR Limit
Head: 1.17
Body: 1.11
2.0 W/kg (over 10 g) SAR Limit
Head: 0.98
Body: 0.99
Model A2399, A2400, A2401
1.6 W/kg (over 1 g) SAR Limit
Head: 1.19
Body: 1.19
2.0 W/kg (over 10 g) SAR Limit
Head: 0.98
Body: 0.99
1.6 W/kg (over 1 g) SAR Limit
Head: 1.17
Body: 1.11
2.0 W/kg (over 10 g) SAR Limit
Head: 0.98
Body:
iPhone 13
IPhone 13 ProMax
Model A2484
1.6 W/kg (over 1 g) SAR Limit
Head: 1.18
Body: 1.20
2.0 W/kg (over 10 g) SAR Limit
Head: 0.99
Body: 0.98
Model A2641
1.6 W/kg (over 1 g) SAR Limit
Head: 1.18
Body: 1.20
2.0 W/kg (over 10 g) SAR Limit
Head: 0.99
Body: 0.98
Model A2643, A2644, A2645
1.6 W/kg (over 1 g) SAR Limit
Head: 1.18
Body: 1.20
2.0 W/kg (over 10 g) SAR Limit
Head: 0.99
Body: 0.98
iPhone 13 mini
Model A2481
1.6 W/kg (over 1 g) SAR Limit
Head: 1.19
Body: 1.19
2.0 W/kg (over 10 g) SAR Limit
Head: 0.97
Body: 0.98
Model A2626
1.6 W/kg (over 1 g) SAR Limit
Head: 1.19
Body: 1.19
2.0 W/kg (over 10 g) SAR Limit
Head: 0.97
Body: 0.98
Model A2628, A2629, A2630
1.6 W/kg (over 1 g) SAR Limit
Head: 1.19
Body: 1.19
2.0 W/kg (over 10 g) SAR Limit
Head: 0.97
Body: 0.98
iphone 13 Pro
Model A2483
1.6 W/kg (over 1 g) SAR Limit
Head: 1.20
Body: 1.19
2.0 W/kg (over 10 g) SAR Limit
Head: 0.99
Body: 0.98
Model A2636
1.6 W/kg (over 1 g) SAR Limit
Head: 1.20
Body: 1.19
2.0 W/kg (over 10 g) SAR Limit
Head: 0.99
Body: 0.98
Model A2638, A2639, A2640
1.6 W/kg (over 1 g) SAR Limit
Head: 1.20
Body: 1.19
2.0 W/kg (over 10 g) SAR Limit
Head: 0.99
Body: 0.98
IPhone 14
Model A2881, A2882, A2883, A2884, A2649
1.6 W/kg (over 1 g) SAR Limit
Head: 1.15
Body: 1.16
2.0 W/kg (over 10 g) SAR Limit
Head: 0.98
Body: 0.98
