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you are concerned about avoiding even potential risks, you can
take a few simple steps to minimize your exposure to Radio
Frequency (RF) energy. Since time is a key factor in how much
exposure a person receives, reducing the amount of time
spent using a tablet will reduce RF exposure. If you must
conduct extended conversations using a wireless device every
day, you could place more distance between your body and the
source of the RF, since the exposure level drops off
dramatically with distance. For example, you could use a
headset and carry the tablet away from your body or use a
wireless device connected to a remote antenna. Again, the
scientific data does not demonstrate that tablets are harmful.
But if you are concerned about the RF exposure from these
products, you can use measures like those described above to
reduce your RF exposure from tablet use.
10. What about children using tablets?
The scientific evidence does not show a danger to users of
tablets, including children and teenagers. If you want to take
steps to lower exposure to Radio Frequency (RF) energy, the
measures described above would apply to children and
teenagers using tablets. Reducing the time of tablet use and
increasing the distance between the user and the RF source
will reduce RF exposure.
Some groups sponsored by other national governments have
advised that children be discouraged from using wireless
devices at all. For example, the government in the United
Kingdom distributed leaflets containing such a
recommendation in December 2000. They noted that no
evidence exists that using a wireless device causes brain
tumors or other ill effects. Their recommendation to limit
wireless device use by children was strictly precautionary; it
was not based on scientific evidence that any health hazard
exists.
11. What about wireless communications device interference
with medical equipment?
Radio Frequency (RF) energy from wireless communications
devices 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 devices.
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
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