Are Bluetooth headsets safe?

Bluetooth headsets have been around for over a decade, yet many are still reluctant to use them. It may have something to do with not wanting to look like an extra in a sci-fi movie, but there’s also the recurring question: Are Bluetooth headsets safe?

It’s kind of in our nature to worry about new technologies and whether they’re going to doom us all in some unforeseen way. People love a good dystopian tale. Bluetooth headsets…well, let’s just say they don’t make the best candidates for such a tale. If anything, they may actually reduce some of the risks associated with other tech. How so?

To answer that, let’s look at two things people tend to worry about:

• 1. Are Bluetooth headsets safe for your health?
• 2. Are Bluetooth headsets safe for driving?

People worry that wearing a radio-transmitting gadget on their head is going to cause some health issues. Let’s face it: Despite what comic books may have us believe, radiation rarely gives you superpowers. It’s generally something we want to stay away from.

But is radiation from Bluetooth headsets something to be worried about? The short answer is no – if you ask the scientists who study it. To understand why, let’s talk briefly about cell phone radiation studies first.

Unlike cell phones, which have to transmit a signal to an antenna that might be many kilometers away, Bluetooth headsets only need to reach the phone in your pocket. Most Bluetooth headsets have a range of only 10 meters (30 feet). This also means that they emit far less radiation than cell phones themselves. How much less? One thousand times less.

That’s why most authorities explicitly advise using hands-free devices including Bluetooth headsets if you’re worried about radiation exposure from cell phones. For instance:

“To reduce radio frequency radiation near your body: Get a hands-free headset that connects directly to your phone.”
– Center for Disease Control and Prevention

“Headsets can substantially reduce exposure since the phone is held away from the head in the user’s hand or in approved body-worn accessories.”
– Food and Drug Administration

“Use the speaker mode on the phone or a hands-free device such as a corded or cordless earpiece. This moves the antenna away from your head, which decreases the amount of RF waves that reach the head.”
– American Cancer Society

In a nutshell, if you’re going to be talking on a cell phone no matter what, using a Bluetooth headset will help you reduce exposure to radiation.