Fda Consumer Update - Pantech CDM-8935 User Manual

SAFETY AND WARRANTY
U.S. Food and Drug Administration -Center for
Devices and Radiological Health Consumer Update
on Wireless Phones
1. Do wireless phones pose a health hazard?
The available scientific evidence does not show that any health problems are associ-
ated with using wireless phones. There is no proof, however, that wireless phones are
absolutely safe. Wireless phones emit low levels of radiofrequency energy (RF) in the
microwave range while being used. They also emit very low levels of RF when in the
stand-by mode. Whereas high levels of RF can produce health effects (by heating tis-
sue), exposure to low level RF that does not produce heating effects causes no known
adverse health effects. Many studies of low level RF exposures have not found any
biological effects. Some studies have suggested that some biological effects may occur,
but such findings have not been confirmed by additional research. In some cases,
other researchers have had difficulty in reproducing those studies, or in determining
the reasons for inconsistent results.
2. What is FDA's role concerning the safety of wireless phones?
Under the law, FDA does not review the safety of radiation-emitting consumer
products such as wireless phones before they can be sold, as it does with new drugs or
medical devices. However, the agency has authority to take action if wireless phones
are shown to emit radiofrequency energy (RF) at a level that is hazardous to the user.
In such a case, FDA could require the manufacturers of wireless 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, FDA has urged the wireless phone industry to take a number of steps, includ-
ing the following:
• Support needed research into possible biological effects of RF of the
type emitted by wireless phones;
• Design wireless phones in a way that minimizes any RF exposure to the
user that is not necessary for device function;
and
• Cooperate in providing users of wireless phones with the best possible
information on possible effects of wireless phone use on human
health.
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FDA CONSUMER UPDATE

FDA CONSUMER UPDATE
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
• Federal Communications Commission
• Occupational Safety and Health Administration
• National Telecommunications and Information Administration
The National Institutes of Health participates in some inter-agency 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
subject of the safety questions discussed in this document.
3. What kinds of phones are the subject of this update?
The term "wireless phone" refers here to hand-held wireless phones with built-in
antennas, often called "cell," "mobile," or "PCS" phones. These types of wireless
phones can expose the user to measurable radiofrequency energy (RF) because of the
short distance between the phone and the user's head. These RF exposures are limited
by Federal Communications Commission safety guidelines that were developed with
the advice of FDA and other federal health and safety agencies. When the phone
is located at greater distances from the user, the exposure to RF is drastically lower
because a person's RF exposure decreases rapidly with increasing distance from the
source. The so-called "cordless phones," which have a base unit connected to the tele-
phone wiring in a house, typically operate at far lower power levels, and thus produce
RF exposures far below the FCC safety limits.
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