In order to protect the public from health hazards from electric and magnetic fields from low-frequency and direct current systems, limit values ​​are   specified in the 26th ordinance for the implementation of the Federal Immission Control Act (26th BImSchV) .

The so-called SAR value (specific absorption rate) is used as the basis for defining limit values ​​in this area. It is a measure of the absorption of electromagnetic fields in a body or material. The absorption of electromagnetic energy always leads to heating of a body. The limit values ​​for mobile phones are therefore only based on the thermal effect of electromagnetic radiation. Other influences of the radiation, such as possible damage to the genetic material of the cell or similar, are not taken into account. There are currently no long-term studies on these effects.

The maximum values ​​recommended to protect health are

- 0.08 watts per kilogram (W/kg) averaged over the whole body and
- 2 W/kg averaged locally over parts of the body, for example in the head.

Quote from the recommendation of the BfS for telephoning with the mobile phone: "According to the current scientific knowledge, the internationally specified maximum values ​​are sufficient to protect against proven health risks . However, there are still uncertainties in the risk assessment that could not be completely eliminated by the German Mobile Research Program. These relate in particular to:

- possible health risks of long-term exposure to high-frequency electromagnetic fields from mobile phone calls in adults (intensive mobile phone use for more than 10 years)
- the question of whether the use of mobile phones by children could have health effects.

For these reasons, the BfS still considers preventive health protection (precaution) to be necessary: ​​exposure to electromagnetic fields should be as low as possible.”