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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.
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.
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