Pantech Telus PN-8200 User Manual page 261

SAFETY INFORMATION
FDA shares regulatory responsibilities for wireless phones with the Federal
Communications Commission (FCC). All phones that are sold in the United States must
comply with FCC safety guidelines that limit RF exposure. FCC relies on FDA and other
health agencies for safety questions about wireless phones.
FCC also regulates the base stations that the wireless phone networks rely upon. While
these base stations operate at higher power than do the wireless phones themselves, the
RF exposures that people get from these base stations are typically thousands of times
lower than those they can get from wireless phones. Base stations are thus not the primary
subject of the safety questions discussed in this document.
4. What are the results of the research done already?
The research done thus far has produced conflicting results, and many studies have
suffered from flaws in their research methods. Animal experiments investigating the
effects of radiofrequency energy (RF) exposures characteristic of wireless phones have
yielded conflicting results that often cannot be repeated in other laboratories. A few animal
studies, however, have suggested that low levels of RF could accelerate the development
of cancer in laboratory animals. However, many of the studies that showed increased
tumor development used animals that had been genetically engineered or treated with
cancer-causing chemicals so as to be pre-disposed to develop cancer in the absence of
RF exposure. Other studies exposed the animals to RF for up to 22 hours per day. These
conditions are not similar to the conditions under which people use wireless phones, so we
don't know with certainty what the results of such studies mean for human health.
Three large epidemiology studies have been published since December 2000. Between
them, the studies investigated any possible association between the use of wireless
phones and primary brain cancer, glioma, meningioma, or acoustic neuroma, tumors of the
brain or salivary gland, leukemia, or other cancers. None of the studies demonstrated the
existence of any harmful health effects from wireless phone RF exposures. However, none
of the studies can answer questions about long-term exposures, since the average period
of phone use in these studies was around three years.
5. What research is needed to decide whether RF exposure from wireless phones
poses a health risk?
A combination of laboratory studies and epidemiological studies of people actually using
wireless phones would provide some of the data that are needed. Lifetime animal exposure
studies could be completed in a few years. However, very large numbers of animals
would be needed to provide reliable proof of a cancer promoting effect if one exists.
Epidemiological studies can provide data that is directly applicable to human populations,
but 10 or more years' follow-up may be needed to provide answers about some health
effects, such as cancer. This is because the interval between the time of exposure to a
cancer-causing agent and the time tumors develop - if they do - may be many, many years.
The interpretation of epidemiological studies is hampered by difficulties in measuring
actual RF exposure during day-to-day use of wireless phones. Many factors affect this
measurement, such as the angle at which the phone is held, or which model of phone is
used.
6. What is FDA doing to find out more about the possible health effects of wireless
phone RF?
FDA is working with the U.S. National Toxicology Program and with groups of investigators
around the world to ensure that high priority animal studies are conducted to address
important questions about the effects of exposure to radiofrequency energy (RF).
FDA has been a leading participant in the World Health Organization International
Electromagnetic Fields (EMF) Project since its inception in 1996. An influential result of
this work has been the development of a detailed agenda of research needs that has
driven the establishment of new research programs around the world. The Project has also
helped develop a series of public information documents on EMF issues.
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