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phone causes brain tumors or other ill
effects. Their recommendation to limit
wireless phone use by children was strictly
precautionary; it was not based on
scientific evidence that any health hazard
exists.
11. What about wireless phone
interference with medical equipment?
Radio Frequency (RF) energy from wireless
phones can interact with some electronic
devices. For this reason, the FDA helped
develop a detailed test method to measure
Electro Magnetic Interference (EMI) of
implanted cardiac pacemakers and
defibrillators from wireless telephones.
This test method is now part of a standard
sponsored by the Association for the
Advancement of Medical Instrumentation
(AAMI). The final draft, a joint effort by the
FDA, medical device manufacturers, and
many other groups, was completed in late
2000. This standard will allow
manufacturers to ensure that cardiac
pacemakers and defibrillators are safe
from wireless phone EMI.
The FDA has tested hearing aids for
interference from handheld wireless
phones and helped develop a voluntary
standard sponsored by the Institute of
Electrical and Electronic Engineers (IEEE).
This standard specifies test methods and
performance requirements for hearing aids
and wireless phones so that no
interference occurs when a person uses a
"compatible" phone and a "compatible"
hearing aid at the same time. This standard
was approved by the IEEE in 2000.
The FDA continues to monitor the use of
wireless phones for possible interactions
with other medical devices. Should harmful
interference be found to occur, the FDA
will conduct testing to assess the
interference and work to resolve the
problem.
12. Where can I find additional
information?
For additional information, please refer to
the following resources:
FDA web page on wireless phones
(http://www.fda.gov/cellphones/)
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