Wireless phones and Bluetooth devices both emit non-ionizing radiation, typically at frequencies from 1 to 2.5 GHz. The data results on health hazards from wireless phone radiation are not clear-cut, with some studies showing a measure of risk and some showing no problems.

But because it's a good idea to err on the side of caution in such matters, regulatory bodies have set exposure standards. These are expressed in terms of the "specific absorption rate" (SAR), which attempts to measure the radiation actually reaching body tissue. The U.S. and Canadian governments have set a maximum SAR of 1.6 watts per kilogram, while the European Union permits a slightly higher level. In the real world, emissions generally stay well below the maximum allowed. According to data from BlackBerry-maker Research in Motion (RIMM), SARs for GSM BlackBerry devices fall in the range of 0.25 watts per kilogram when used at your ear.

Bluetooth radios operate at much lower power levels than phones so, not surprisingly, the radiation added by a Bluetooth device is insignificant by comparison. A study by William G. Scanlon of Queen's University in Belfast found that a typical Ericsson (ERICY) Bluetooth radio module generates an SAR of just 0.001 watts per kilogram.