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In June 2000, the FDA entered into a cooperative research and development
agreement through which additional scientific research will be conducted.
The FCC issued its own website publication stating that "[t]here is no
scientific evidence to date 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/
consumerfacts/mobilephone.html or through the FCC at 1-888-225-
5322 or at 1-888-CALL-FCC.
What does Specific Absorption Rate (SAR) mean?
In 1996, the FCC, working with the FDA, the U.S. Environmental Protection
Agency (EPA) and other agencies, established RF exposure safety guidelines
for wireless devices in the United States. Before a wireless device 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 wireless device transmitting at its highest power
level in all tested frequency bands. Since 1996, the FCC has required that
the SAR of handheld wireless devices 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 device 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 wireless device to the body while in use and
the use of hands-free devices.
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43
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