Ericsson A2218Z User Manual page 13

1 Two groups of 18 people were exposed to simulated mobile phone
signals under laboratory conditions while they performed cogni-
tive function tests. There were no changes in the subjects' ability
to recall words, numbers, or pictures, or in their spatial memory,
but they were able to make choices more quickly in one visual test
when they were exposed to simulated mobile phone signals. This
was the only change noted among more than 20 variables com-
pared. 3
2 In a study of 209 brain tumor cases and 425 matched controls,
there was no increased risk of brain tumors associated with mobile
phone use. When tumors did exist in certain locations, however,
they were more likely to be on the side of the head where the
mobile phone was used. Because this occurred in only a small
number of cases, the increased likelihood was too small to be sta-
tistically significant. 4
In summary, we do not have enough information at this point to
assure the public that there are, or are not, any low incident health
problems associated with use of mobile phones. FDA continues to
work with all parties, including other federal agencies and industry,
to assure that research is undertaken to provide the necessary answers
to the outstanding questions about the safety of mobile phones.
What is known about cases of human cancer that have
been reported in users of hand-held mobile phones?
Some people who have used mobile phones have been diagnosed
with brain cancer. But it is important to understand that this type of
cancer also occurs among people who have not used mobile phones.
In fact, brain cancer occurs in the U.S. population at a rate of about
6 new cases per 100,000 people each year. At that rate, assuming 80
million users of mobile phones (a number increasing at a rate of
about 1 million per month), about 4800 cases of brain cancer would
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be expected each year among those 80 million people, whether or
not they used their phones. Thus it is not possible to tell whether
any individual's cancer arose because of the phone, or whether it
would have happened anyway. A key question is whether the risk of
getting a particular form of cancer is greater among people who use
mobile phones than among the rest of the population. One way to
answer that question is to compare the usage of mobile phones
among people with brain cancer with the use of mobile phones
among appropriately matched people without brain cancer. This is
called a case-control study.
The current case-control study of brain cancers by the National Can-
cer Institute, as well as the follow-up research to be sponsored by
industry, will begin to generate this type of information.
What is FDA's role concerning the safety of mobile
phones?
Under the law, FDA does not review the safety of radiation-emitting
consumer products such as mobile phones before marketing, as it
does with new drugs or medical devices. However, the agency has
authority to take action if mobile phones are shown to emit radiation
at a level that is hazardous to the user. In such a case, FDA could
require the manufacturers of mobile phones to notify users of the
health hazard and to repair, replace or recall the phones so that the
hazard no longer exists.
Although the existing scientific data do not justify FDA regulatory
actions at this time, FDA has urged the mobile phone industry to
take a number of steps to assure public safety. The agency has recom-
mended that the industry:
• support needed research into possible biological effects of RF of
the type emitted by mobile phones;
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