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glioma, meningioma, or acoustic neuroma, tumors of the brain or salivary
gland, leukemia, or other cancers. None of the studies demonstrated the
existence of any harmful health effects from wireless phone RF exposures.
However, none of the studies can answer questions about long-term exposures,
since the average period of phone use in these studies was around three years.
5. What research is needed to decide whether RF exposure from
wireless phones poses a health risk?
A combination of laboratory studies and epidemiological studies of people
actually using wireless phones would provide some of the data that are needed.
Lifetime animal exposure studies could be completed in a few years. However,
very large numbers of animals would be needed to provide reliable proof of a
cancer promoting effect if one exists. Epidemiological studies can provide data
that is directly applicable to human populations, but 10 or more years follow-up
may be needed to provide answers about some health effects, such as cancer.
This is because the interval between the time of exposure to a cancer-causing
agent and the time tumors develop — if they do — may be many, many years.
The interpretation of epidemiological studies is hampered by difficulties in
measuring actual RF exposure during day-to-day use of wireless phones. Many
factors affect this measurement, such as the angle at which the phone is held,
or which model of phone is used.
6. What is the FDA doing to find out more about the possible
health effects of wireless phone RF?
The 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).
The 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 a detailed
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