 The progressive California town of Berkeley has passed a new resolution mandating that the safety information typically buried deep within the fine print of mobile phone user manuals instead be emblazoned as a prominent safety warning that consumers will actually notice and acknowledge. The Guardian reports that Berkeley lawmakers crafted the resolution to address what they see as 'an important right-to-know issue,' contending that key safety information warning users about cancer and other health risks associated with mobile phone use is typically too obscure for the average person to understand. As it currently stands, most wireless-capable devices like smartphones already carry Federal Communications Commission (FCC)-mandated safety warnings about how far a mobile device should be kept away from the body to avoid injury. The official recommendation is that most devices remain at a distance of 5 to 25 millimeters away from the skin to limit radiation exposure. Most users don't know about these warnings because they're often hidden in the fine print of circumlocutory instruction manuals that are obnoxiously abstruse. The goal is to make accessing this already-provided safety information simpler so that consumers can make safe, smart choices about how they use their mobile phones. 'To assure safety, the Federal Government requires that cell phones meet radio frequency (RF) exposure guidelines,' reads the mandated safety information warning. 'If you carry or use your phone in a pants or shirt pocket or tucked into a bra when the phone is ON and connected to a wireless network, you may exceed the federal guidelines for exposure to RF radiation.' 'This potential risk is greater for children. Refer to the instructions in your phone or user manual for information about how to use your phone safely.' 190 scientists from 39 countries affirm that mobile phones increase the risk of cellular stress, genetic damage and cancer The mandate came about after a poll of Berkeley residents found that 66 percent of respondents who regularly carry mobile phones in their pockets reported being unaware of the FCC's safety guidelines concerning the dangers associated with keeping one's mobile phone too close to the body. '... while 74% of respondents carried their phones in a pocket -- considered close contact -- 66% were unaware that cell phone manufacturers recommend the products be carried away from the body or used in conjunction with hands-free devices,' explains The Guardian . 'The Berkeley ordinance would require sellers to post the safety information in public view and hand out a separate flyer to buyers who purchase or lease a phone.' There's nothing all that novel about the requirement other than the fact that it reiterates what the FCC has already determined concerning mobile phone safety. CTIA - The Wireless Association, a trade organization that represents key wireless industry players, has condemned the move as failing to provide information 'grounded in science or sound policy.' CTIA has an agenda to promote the interests of wireless carriers, phone manufacturers and others within the industry that face increased scrutiny if more users become aware of the proven dangers associated with mobile devices. This industry group, along with various others, hold heavy influence over media and government when it comes to how much the public is told about cell phone risks. The fact of the matter is that the mandated warning is based on sound science, contrary to what CTIA claims, and an open letter penned by 190 scientists from 39 countries reiterates this. 'Numerous recent scientific publications have shown that EMF affects living organisms at levels well below most international and national guidelines,' reads the letter, which calls for the United Nations and the World Health Organization (WHO) to conduct an impartial study on the subject. '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.' Sources: http://www.theguardian.com http://www.ctia.org 