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7. How can I find out how much Radio Frequency energy
exposure I can get by using my tablet?
All tablets sold in the United States must comply with Federal
Communications Commission (FCC) guidelines that limit Radio
Frequency (RF) energy exposures. The FCC established these
guidelines in consultation with the FDA and the other federal
health and safety agencies. The FCC limit for RF exposure
from wireless devices is set at a Specific Absorption Rate
(SAR) of 1.6 watts per kilogram (1.6 W/kg). The FCC limit is
consistent with the safety standards developed by the
Institute of Electrical and Electronic Engineering (IEEE) and
the National Council on Radiation Protection and
Measurement. The exposure limit takes into consideration the
body's ability to remove heat from the tissues that absorb
energy from the tablet and is set well below levels known to
have effects. Manufacturers of tablets must report the RF
exposure level for each model of tablet to the FCC. The FCC
website (http://www.fcc.gov/oet/rfsafety) gives directions for
locating the FCC identification number on your tablet so you
can find your tablet's RF exposure level in the online listing.
8. What has the FDA done to measure the Radio Frequency
energy coming from tablets?
The Institute of Electrical and Electronic Engineers (IEEE) is
developing a technical standard for measuring the Radio
Frequency (RF) energy exposure from tablets and other
wireless handsets with the participation and leadership of FDA
scientists and engineers. The standard, "Recommended
Practice for Determining the Spatial-Peak Specific Absorption
Rate (SAR) in the Human Body Due to Wireless
Communications Devices: Experimental Techniques" , sets forth
the first consistent test methodology for measuring the rate
at which RF is deposited in the heads and bodies of tablet
users. The test method uses a tissue-simulating model of the
human head and body. Standardized SAR test methodology is
expected to greatly improve the consistency of measurements
made at different laboratories on the same tablet. SAR is the
measurement of the amount of energy absorbed in tissue,
either by the whole body or a small part of the body. It is
measured in watts/kg (or milliwatts/g) of matter. This
measurement is used to determine whether a tablet complies
with safety guidelines.
9. What steps can I take to reduce my exposure to Radio
Frequency energy from my tablet?
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
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