{
  "id": "questions:are-smart-meters-dangerous",
  "collection": "questions",
  "slug": "are-smart-meters-dangerous",
  "name": "Are smart meters dangerous?",
  "summary": "Peak bursts are high but duty cycle is under 1%, so time-averaged exposure is far below limits. Room layout and the utility's own filings are the practical levers.",
  "status": "verified",
  "lastVerified": "2026-08-12",
  "data": {
    "question": "Do smart meters emit dangerous levels of radiation?",
    "answer": "Mesh smart meters transmit short bursts at up to 1 W in the 900 MHz band, so a peak-hold meter held next to one can read high while the time-averaged exposure that limits are written against is low, because the duty cycle is typically well under 1%. Measured and calculated exposures at normal distances are far below FCC limits, and no health authority has found harm at these levels. If it concerns you, the effective steps are practical rather than technical: find out what is on the other side of the meter wall, move sleeping positions away from it, ask the utility for the meter's FCC ID and duty-cycle filing, and check whether an opt-out or wired-read option exists in your jurisdiction.",
    "cluster": "devices",
    "aliases": [
      "smart meter radiation danger",
      "smart meter opt out"
    ],
    "related": [
      "emitters:smart-meter",
      "glossary:duty-cycle",
      "glossary:averaging-time"
    ]
  },
  "sources": [
    {
      "id": "fcc-part15",
      "title": "47 CFR Part 15 — Radio Frequency Devices (unlicensed transmitter power limits)",
      "publisher": "U.S. Government Publishing Office (eCFR)",
      "url": "https://www.ecfr.gov/current/title-47/part-15",
      "kind": "regulation",
      "retrieved": "2026-08-12"
    },
    {
      "id": "fcc-1310",
      "title": "47 CFR § 1.1310 — Radiofrequency radiation exposure limits",
      "publisher": "U.S. Government Publishing Office (eCFR)",
      "url": "https://www.ecfr.gov/current/title-47/section-1.1310",
      "kind": "regulation",
      "retrieved": "2026-08-12"
    },
    {
      "id": "fcc-eas",
      "title": "Equipment Authorization Search (FCC ID lookup, includes SAR test reports)",
      "publisher": "Federal Communications Commission",
      "url": "https://www.fcc.gov/oet/ea/fccid",
      "kind": "government",
      "retrieved": "2026-08-12"
    }
  ],
  "links": {
    "self": "https://emfbase.com/api/questions/are-smart-meters-dangerous",
    "html": "https://emfbase.com/questions/are-smart-meters-dangerous",
    "markdown": "https://emfbase.com/questions/are-smart-meters-dangerous.md",
    "collection": "https://emfbase.com/api/questions"
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}