Table of Contents
Advertisement
Health and safety information
Consumer Information on Wireless
Phones
The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has
published a series of Questions and Answers for
consumers relating to radio frequency (RF) exposure
from wireless phones. The FDA publication includes
the following information:
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
radio frequency 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 telephone wiring in a house, typically operate
at far lower power levels, and thus produce RF
exposures well within the FCC's compliance limits.
96
Do wireless phones pose a health hazard?
The available scientific evidence does not show that
any health problems are associated with using
wireless phones. There is no proof, however, that
wireless phones are absolutely safe. Wireless
phones emit low levels of radio frequency 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 tissue), 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.
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 radio frequency 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
Advertisement
Table of Contents
