Empirical Relation between Specific Absorption Rate and Distance from Mobile Phones

SAR and phone distance relation

Authors

  • Frederick Sam Department of Physics, University of Cape Coast, Cape Coast
  • Samuel Osei Ghana Atomic Energy Commission
  • Philip Deatanyah Health Physics Centre, Radiation Protection Institute, Ghana Atomic Energy Commission. https://orcid.org/0000-0003-4670-3329
  • Collins Kafui Azah Nuclear Safety and Security Depaetment, School of Nuclear and Allied Sciences, University of Ghana https://orcid.org/0000-0002-1346-3624
  • Joseph Kwabena Amoako Nuclear Safety and Security Department, School of Nuclear and Allied Sciences, University of Ghana. https://orcid.org/0000-0003-0797-0045
  • Roland Yaw Kudozia Type Approval Laboratories, National Communications Authority, P.O.Box CT 1568, Cantonments, Accra, Ghana.
  • Peter Onyekwere Type Approval Laboratories,National Communications Authority, P.O.Box CT1568, Cantonments, Accra, Ghana
  • Godfred Bright Hagan Department of Physics, College of Basic and Applied Sciences, University of Ghana, Legon-Accra, Ghana.
  • Joanna Aba Modupeh Hodasi Department of Physics, College of Basic and Applied Sciences, University of Ghana, Legon-Accra, Ghana
  • Christiana Subaar Department of Physics, Faculty of Physical and Computational Sciences, Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology.

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.4314/6fvjpn14

Keywords:

Specific absorption rate, regulatory-compliant phones, regulatory non-compliant phones, Electromagnetic fields, Radiofrequency radiation

Abstract

Mobile phone usage continues to expand, and its applications keep evolving. However, recent research suggests possible radiofrequency health concerns associated with the long-term mobile phones use, making exposure reduction measures key to mitigating potential risks. The study investigated the empirical relationship between the head's Specific Absorption Rate (SAR) and the separation distance from regulatory-compliant and non-compliant mobile phones using a ComoSAR measuring system. The SAR of both phone categories was below the recommended limits. The regulatory-compliant phones’ SAR values decreased regularly with increasing phone distance. However, SAR levels of the regulatory non-compliant phones were inconsistent, where instead of a reduction in SAR levels, an increase in phone distance resulted in an over 70% rise in SAR level, potentially creating localised hotspots and the possibility of localised tissue heating. An exponential decay and single-phase exponential functions were formulated to estimate the SAR of the regulatory non-compliant and regulatory-compliant phones, respectively. The study provided simplified mathematical relations which relate SAR to phone distance. Additionally, the results highlighted the need to tighten controls over the illegal sale of non-compliant phones and their usage by the unsuspecting public. The study outcome also provided the need to consider incorporating SAR-level trends in the regulatory testing regime for mobile phones. Keywords: Specific absorption rate, regulatory-compliant phones, regulatory non-compliant phones, electromagnetic fields, radiofrequency radiation.

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Author Biographies

  • Frederick Sam, Department of Physics, University of Cape Coast, Cape Coast

    Prof. Frederick Sam is an Associate Professor in the Department of Physics at the University of Cape Coast (UCC), Ghana, and serves as the Vice Dean of the School of Physical Sciences, a position he has held since August 2022. He holds a PhD in Solid Earth Physics from the University of Birmingham, United Kingdom; an MPhil in Geophysics from the University of Bergen, Norway; and a BSc (Hons) in Physics and Diploma in Education (Dip. Ed.) from the University of Cape Coast, Ghana. His academic excellence has been recognized through prestigious awards, including the Commonwealth Scholarship and the Norwegian Government Scholarship. Prof. Sam is an active member of several professional organizations, including the International Association of Hydrogeologists (IAH), Ghana Institute of Physics (GIOP), and Ghana Science Association (GSA). His research interests include Computational Physics, Electromagnetism, Environmental Sustainability, and Geophysical Challenges.

  • Samuel Osei, Ghana Atomic Energy Commission

    Dr. Samuel Osei is a Research Scientist, EMF Expert, and Head of the Non-Ionizing Radiation Unit at the Radiation Protection Institute (RPI) of the Ghana Atomic Energy Commission. He is a member of the Technical Industry Working Group of the National Communications Authority (NCA) and serves as a principal representative on the Telecommunications Infrastructure and Network Systems Subcommittee of the Ghana Standards Authority (GSA). Dr. Osei is a member of several professional organizations, including the Ghana Nuclear Society (GNS), Ghana Association for Radiation Protection (GARP), and the International Radiation Protection Association (IRPA). His research interests include measurement of radiation from communication base stations and mobile phones, analysis of antenna fields, optimization of radiation protection and safety, minimizing radiation exposure and associated effects, public and occupational radiation safety, education and training, and advancing innovations in electromagnetic fields through focused and innovative research.

  • Philip Deatanyah, Health Physics Centre, Radiation Protection Institute, Ghana Atomic Energy Commission.

    Dr Philip Deatanyah is a Lecturer and a radiation protection physicist at the Department of Nuclear Safety and Security at the graduate school of nuclear and Allied Sciences (SNAS), Atomic, Ghana. His area of expertise is in Radiation Shielding and Non-Ionizing radiation Safety. He is a member of the Ghana Nuclear Society (GNS) and Internation Association of Radiation Protection (IRPA). He collaborates with scientists in universities and sister institutions.

  • Collins Kafui Azah, Nuclear Safety and Security Depaetment, School of Nuclear and Allied Sciences, University of Ghana

    Dr. Collins Kafui Azah is a practicing Health Physicist and Research Scientist at the Radiation Protection Institute (RPI) of the Ghana Atomic Energy Commission. He also serves as the Acting Head of the Nuclear Safety and Security Department at the School of Nuclear and Allied Sciences, University of Ghana. Dr. Azah is a member of several professional organizations, including the Ghana Association for Radiation Protection (GARP), the International Radiation Protection Association (IRPA), and the Ghana Nuclear Society (GNS). His research interests include radiation protection of people and the environment, radiation metrology, radiofrequency safety assessment, and radiation dosimetry.

  • Joseph Kwabena Amoako, Nuclear Safety and Security Department, School of Nuclear and Allied Sciences, University of Ghana.

    Prof. Joseph K. Amoako holds a BSc (Hons) in Physics and a Diploma in Education from the University of Cape Coast; an MPhil in Physics from the University of Ghana, Legon; and a PhD in Physics from the University of Cape Coast. He also holds a Postgraduate Diploma in Radiation Protection from the University of the Witwatersrand, Johannesburg, South Africa. He undertook fellowship training in Occupational Radiation Protection at the Greek Atomic Energy Commission. He is currently an Associate Professor of Health Physics at the School of Nuclear and Allied Sciences, University of Ghana. Prof. Amoako is the President of the Ghana Association for Radiation Protection (GARP) and an Executive Council Member of the International Radiation Protection Association (IRPA). His research interests include Radiation Dosimetry, Occupational Radiation Protection, and Non-Ionising Radiation Protection.

  • Roland Yaw Kudozia, Type Approval Laboratories, National Communications Authority, P.O.Box CT 1568, Cantonments, Accra, Ghana.

    Dr. Roland Yaw Kudozia is a telecommunications engineer and regulatory specialist with the National Communications Authority (NCA), Ghana, where he heads the Licensing Unit. He has previously led the Standards and Technical Regulations and the Laboratory Operations Units and served as Vice Chair of the ITU Study Group 2, contributing to global work on ICT conformance and interoperability. Dr Kudozia also facilitates Conformity and Interoperability training for the ITU Academy.  Dr. Kudozia holds a Doctor of Science in Computer Science from Aspen University (USA), an MBA in Finance from the University of Nicosia (Cyprus), and an MSc in Technology and Innovation from Aspen University. His research interests include knowledge management, telecommunication policy, data security, privacy-preserving cryptography, knowledge management, and AI-driven communication systems. He is a member of IEEE, the Ghana Institution of Engineers, and serves as Vice Chair of the Consumer Committee of the African Organisation for Standardisation (ARSO).

  • Peter Onyekwere, Type Approval Laboratories,National Communications Authority, P.O.Box CT1568, Cantonments, Accra, Ghana

    Peter Onyekwere is a telecommunications engineer with extensive experience of over fifteen (15) years of working experience in both private and public service. Peter has worked with Comsys Ghana, an Internet Service Provider in Ghana, as a technician engineer in radio frequency and fixed transmission, and is currently a Manager at the Regulatory Administration Division of the National Communications Authority (NCA), the communication regulator in Ghana. He is in charge of the Standard Development and Enforcement Unit, which deals with equipment Type Approval, combating non-conforming electronic communications equipment, the NCA Type Approval Lab, radio frequency radiation, and related activities. Peter has a Bachelor's Degree in Telecommunication Engineering from the Regent University College of Science and Technology, Ghana, an MBA in Management from the University of the People, a Master’s Degree in Artificial Intelligence (major in Digital Innovation) from Hanyang University, South Korea, a certified fiber optic technician (CFOT) from the FOA, and a certified cable installer from the City & Guild London. Peter’s areas of interest include radio frequency transmission, fiber optic and cable transmission, RF safety, Internet of Things, Intelligent systems, emerging technologies, and related matters.

  • Godfred Bright Hagan, Department of Physics, College of Basic and Applied Sciences, University of Ghana, Legon-Accra, Ghana.

    Dr. Godfred Bright Hagan is a Senior Lecturer in the Department of Physics, University of Ghana, Legon. He holds a Ph.D. in Physics from the same university, where he also earned his M.Phil. and B.Sc. degrees in Physics and Computer Science. Dr. Hagan’s research is centred on the intersection of hydrogeophysics, environmental modelling, and climate science. His work integrates computational modelling techniques such as GMS and MODFLOW to simulate groundwater flow and contaminant transport, with applications in urban and peri-urban water management. Dr. Hagan has led and contributed to several multidisciplinary environmental research projects addressing groundwater sustainability, stochastic flow modeling, and radiofrequency exposure analysis. He has published in high-impact journals such as Radiation Protection Dosimetry, Groundwater for Sustainable Development, Modeling Earth Systems and Environment, and Journal of African Earth Sciences.

  • Christiana Subaar, Department of Physics, Faculty of Physical and Computational Sciences, Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology.

    Dr Christiana Subaar is a Lecturer at the Department of Physics at the Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology (KNUST), Kumasi, Ghana. Her research expertise lies in optimizing radiation dosages for medical imaging and therapy, striking a balance between diagnostic accuracy and patient safety. She specialize in both ionizing radiation and non-ionizing radiation, with a commitment to evidence-based approaches that prioritize patient outcomes. As an active member of the Ghana Science Association (GSA) and the Ghana Society for Medical Physics (GSMP), I collaborate with esteemed scientists at the Ghana Atomic Energy Commission (GAEC) to advance research and innovation in medical physics.

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Published

2026-09-07

Issue

 Online first articles 

Section

Articles

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This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License.

JUST Vol. 43 Number 1 (2025) Copyright and Licensing statement

How to Cite

Empirical Relation between Specific Absorption Rate and Distance from Mobile Phones: SAR and phone distance relation. (2026). Journal of Science and Technology, 68-83. https://doi.org/10.4314/6fvjpn14

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