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Health and safety information
risks. Hands-free kits can be used with wireless
phones for convenience and comfort. These
systems reduce the absorption of RF energy in
the head because the phone, which is the
source of the RF emissions, will not be placed
against the head. On the other hand, if the
phone is mounted against the waist or other
part of the body during use, then that part of
the body will absorb more RF energy. Wireless
phones marketed in the U.S. are required to
meet safety requirements regardless of
whether they are used against the head or
against the body. Either configuration should
result in compliance with the safety limit.
8. Do wireless phone accessories that claim to
shield the head from RF radiation work?
Since there are no known risks from exposure
to RF emissions from wireless phones, there is
no reason to believe that accessories that claim
to shield the head from those emissions reduce
risks. Some products that claim to shield the
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user from RF absorption use special phone
cases, while others involve nothing more than a
metallic accessory attached to the phone.
Studies have shown that these products
generally do not work as advertised. Unlike
"hand-free" kits, these so-called "shields" may
interfere with proper operation of the phone.
The phone may be forced to boost its power to
compensate, leading to an increase in RF
absorption. In February 2002, the Federal trade
Commission (FTC) charged two companies that
sold devices that claimed to protect wireless
phone users from radiation with making false
and unsubstantiated claims. According to FTC,
these defendants lacked a reasonable basis to
substantiate their claim.
9. What about wireless phone interference with
medical equipment?
Radio frequency energy (RF) from wireless
phones can interact with some electronic
devices. For this reason, FDA helped develop a
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