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Occupational Safety and Health Administration
National Telecommunications and Information Administration
The National Institutes of Health participates in some interagency working group
activities, as well.
FDA shares regulatory responsibilities for wireless phones with the Federal
Communications Commission (FCC). All phones that are sold in the United States
must comply with FCC safety guidelines that limit RF exposure. FCC relies on FDA
and other health agencies for safety questions about wireless phones.
FCC also regulates the base stations that the wireless phone networks rely upon.
While these base stations operate at higher power than do the wireless phones
themselves, the RF exposures that people get from these base stations are typically
thousands of times lower than those they can get from wireless phones. Base
stations are thus not the primary subject of the safety questions discussed in this
document.
What is FDA doing to find out more about the possible health effects of
wireless phone RF?
FDA is working with the U.S. National Toxicology Program and with groups of
investigators around the world to ensure that high priority animal studies are
conducted to address important questions about the effects of exposure to radio
frequency energy (RF).
FDA has been a leading participant in the World Health Organization International
Electromagnetic Fields (EMF) Project since its inception in 1996. An influential
result of this work has been the development of detailed agenda of research needs
that has driven the establishment of new research programs around the world. The
Project has also helped develop a series of public information documents on EMF
issues.
FDA and the Cellular Telecommunications & Internet Association (CTIA) have a
formal Cooperative Research and Development Agreement (CRADA) to do research
on wireless phone safety. FDA provides the scientific oversight, obtaining input
from experts in government, industry, and academic organizations. CTIA-funded
research is conducted through contracts to independent investigators. The initial
research will include both laboratory studies and studies of wireless phone users.
The CRADA will also include a broad assessment of additional research needs in the
context of the latest research developments around the world.
What steps can I take to reduce my exposure to radio frequency energy
from my wireless phone?
If there is a risk from these products--and at this point we do not know that there is-
-it is probably very small. But if you are concerned about avoiding even potential
risks, you can take a few simple steps to minimize your exposure to radio frequency
energy (RF). Since time is a key factor in how much exposure a person receives,
reducing the amount of time spent using a wireless phone will reduce RF exposure.
If you must conduct extended conversations by wireless phone every day, you
could place more distance between your body and the source of the RF, since the
Section 4A: Safety
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