San Francisco is known for being a pioneer among cities. They’ve outlawed plastic bags, imposed strict regulations on wood-burning fireplaces, and require city employees to drink filtered tap water to reduce the use of plastic bottles.

Now, they’ve passed a law that will require all stores selling cell phones to display the amount of radiation emitted by each one.

For years now, the scientific and medical communities have been arguing about whether or not cell phone use can contribute to a person’s risk of cancer. So far, studies have been inconclusive - or more accurately, there have been "conclusive" studies "proving" both sides.

All cell phones sold in SF will now be displayed with their specific absorption rate (SAR) - the amount of radio waves absorbed into your body tissue while using the phone.

Some call it a victory for consumers but others worry that it will lead people to believe certain phones a safer when that’s not necessarily true. To most people an SAR of 1.4 (the FCC requires under 1.6) means nothing.

The law was not the first of it’s kind to be proposed but it’s the first to actually pass. Regardless of whether or not a link between being glued to your phone and developing brain cancer actually exists, the city by the bay has decided that it’s better safe than sorry.

Though not everyone agrees with the way they do things, a recent study ranked SF the “smartest” city in the US (based on education). What do you think? Should the rest of us play it safe and follow suit?

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