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Consumer Information About Radio Frequency Emissions
Your wireless phone, which contains a radio transmitter and receiver, emits radio frequency
energy during use. The following consumer information addresses commonly asked questions
about the health effects of wireless phones.
Are wireless phones safe?
Scientific research on the subject of wireless phones and radio frequency ("RF") energy has been
conducted worldwide for many years, and continues. In the United States, the Food and Drug
Administration ("FDA") and the Federal Communications Commission ("FCC") set policies and
procedures for wireless phones. The FDA issued a website publication on health issues related to cell
phone usage where it states, "The scientific community at large... believes that the weight of scientific
evidence does not show an association between exposure to radiofrequency (RF) from cell phones and
adverse health outcomes. Still the scientific community does recommend conducting additional research
to address gaps in knowledge. That research is being conducted around the world and FDA continues to
monitor developments in this field. You can access the joint FDA/FCC website at http://www.fda.gov
(under c"in the subject index, select Cell Phones > Research). You can also contact the FDA toll-free at
(888) 463-6332 or (888) INFO-FDA. In June 2000, the FDA entered into a cooperative research and
development agreement through which additional scientific research is being conducted. The FCC issued
its own website publication stating that "there is no scientific evidence that proves that wireless phone
usage can lead to cancer or a variety of other problems, including headaches, dizziness or memory loss."
This publication is available at http://www.fcc.gov/cgb/ cellular.html or through the FCC at (888) 225-5322
or (888) CALLFCC.
What does "SAR" mean?
In 1996, the FCC, working with the FDA, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, and other agencies,
established RF exposure safety guidelines for wireless phones in the United States. Before a wireless
phone model is available for sale to the public, it must be tested by the manufacturer and certified to the
FCC that it does not exceed limits established by the FCC. One of these limits is expressed as a Specific
Absorption Rate, or "SAR." SAR is a measure of the rate of absorption of RF energy in the body. Tests for
SAR are conducted with the phone transmitting at its highest power level in all tested frequency bands.
Since 1996, the FCC has required that the SAR of handheld wireless phones not exceed 1.6 watts per
kilogram, averaged over one gram of tissue. Although the SAR is determined at the highest power level,
the actual SAR value of a wireless phone while operating can be less than the reported SAR value. This
is because the SAR value may vary from call to call, depending on factors such as proximity to a cell site,
the proximity of the phone to the body while in use, and the use of hands-free devices. For more
information about SARs, see the FCC's OET Bulletins 56 and 65 at
http://www.fcc.gov/Bureaus/Engineering_Technology/Documents/bulletins or visit the Cellular
Telecommunications Industry Association website at
http://www.ctia.org/consumer_info/index.cfm/AID/10371. You may also wish to contact the manufacturer
of your phone.
Can I minimize my RF exposure?
If you are concerned about RF, there are several simple steps you can take to minimize your RF
exposure. You can, of course, reduce your talk time. You can place more distance between your body
and the source of the RF, as the exposure level drops off dramatically with distance. The FDA/FCC
For Assistance
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