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Health and safety information
FDA belongs to an interagency working group of
the federal agencies that have responsibility for
different aspects of RF safety to ensure
coordinated efforts at the federal level. The
following agencies belong to this working group:
National Institute for Occupational Safety and
Health Environmental Protection Agency
FederalCommunications Commission Occupational
Safety and Health Administration National
Telecommunications and Information
Administration
The National Institutes of Health participates
insome 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.
4. 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
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Health and safety information
questions about the effects of exposure to
radiofrequency 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 a 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.
5. What steps can I take to reduce my exposure to
radiofrequency 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
radiofrequency 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.
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