Hypotheses
“The modelling of the magnetic field is based on the hypothesis of a homogeneous, isotropic conductivity of the body, and only calls on models with simple circular conductive loops to evaluate the currents induced into the various organs and regions of the body, e.g. the head (ICNIRP, page 37), using the following equation, which applies to a pure sinusoidal field.”

Sciences et Avenir, December 2002 (see press review)

- · concerning microwaves, the thermal effect, mobile telephony and the SAR
The standards – or rather, the recommendations – applicable to mobile telephony only concern exposure levels which may entail tissue-warming effects, both acute and short-term, in direct response to “strong doses”.
The emission standards for cellular telephones, applicable to the range of microwaves frequencies from 0.9 to 1.9 GHz, are based on the rise in temperature, quantified by an evaluation of tissues’ SAR (Specific Absorption Rate) of energy.
Thus, they only consider the thermal effect.

Most of the time, SAR measurements will only be made on the corpses of animals, or on the synthetic equivalents of “ghost” organs or tissues, the physical and chemical properties of which are similar to those of living tissues. As the SAR cannot be measured in an active human brain, the probe is inserted in a container holding a liquid simulating the electric properties of biological tissues.
In fact, a ghost is merely the synthetic replica of the volume of a human head, filled with a saline liquid corresponding to the physiological serum. However, ghosts and corpses are inert objects, bereft of life, and thus incapable of any measurable biological response. So the SAR is only the physical signature of the electric component of microwaves and, as such, has no biological meaning, since it is not measured in conjunction with the observation of any biological effect on living beings. But measuring the SAR in living beings poses technical problems, the solution for which is far from evident, which is why we may rightly question the validity and usefulness of the SAR as it is currently measured or calculated, unless it be as a mere indication of the amount of energy stored in tissues.

Absorption. As concerns the propagation of radio waves, attenuation of a radio wave by dissipating its energy, i.e. by transforming it into another form of energy, e.g. heat.
Specific absorption (SA). Energy absorbed by mass unit of biological tissue; it is expressed in joules per kilogram (J.kg -1); specific absorption is equal to the full absorption rate over time
Specific absorption rate (SAR). Rate of energy absorption into biological tissues; it is expressed in watts per kilogram (W.kg -1); the SAR is the dosimetric unit currently used for frequencies over to 100 kHz.