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Safety Guidelines
States must comply with Federal
Communications Commission (FCC)
guidelines that limit radio frequency
energy (RF) exposures. The FCC
established these guidelines in
consultation with the FDA and the other
federal health and safety agencies.
The FCC limit for RF exposure from
wireless telephones is set at a Specific
Absorption Rate (SAR) of 1.6 watts per
kilogram (1.6 W/kg). The FCC limit is
consistent with the safety standards
developed by the Institute of Electrical
and Electronic Engineering (IEEE) and
the National Council on Radiation
Protection and Measurement. The
exposure limit takes into consideration
the body's ability to remove heat from
the tissues that absorb energy from
the wireless phone and is set well
below levels known to have effects.
Manufacturers of wireless phones
must report the RF exposure level for
each model of phone to the FCC. The
FCC website (http://www.fcc.gov/oet/
rfsafety) gives directions for locating
the FCC identification number on your
phone so you can find your phone's RF
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exposure level in the online listing.
8. What has the FDA done to
measure the radio frequency
energy coming from wireless
phones?
The Institute of Electrical and Electronic
Engineers (IEEE) is developing a
technical standard for measuring
the radio frequency energy (RF)
exposure from wireless phones
and other wireless handsets with
the participation and leadership of
FDA scientists and engineers. The
standard, 'Recommended Practice for
Determining the Spatial- Peak Specific
Absorption Rate (SAR) in the Human
Body Due to Wireless Communications
Devices: Experimental Techniques,'
sets forth the first consistent test
methodology for measuring the rate
at which RF is deposited in the heads
of wireless phone users. The test
method uses a tissuesimulating model
of the human head. Standardized
SAR test methodology is expected
to greatly improve the consistency
of measurements made at different
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