NEC Terrain User Manual page 90

9. What steps can I take to reduce my exposure to Radio Frequency energy from my wireless
phone?
If there is a risk from these products — and at this point we do not know that there is — it is probably very
small. But if you are concerned about avoiding even potential risks, you can take a few simple steps to minimize
your exposure to Radio Frequency (RF) energy. Since time is a key factor in how much exposure a person
receives, reducing the amount of time spent using a wireless phone will reduce RF exposure. If you must
conduct extended conversations by wireless phone every day, you could place more distance between your
body and the source of the RF, since the exposure level drops off dramatically with distance. For example, you
could use a headset and carry the wireless phone away from your body or use a wireless phone connected to a
remote antenna. Again, the scientific data do not demonstrate that wireless phones are harmful. But if you are
concerned about the RF exposure from these products, you can use measures like those described above to
reduce your RF exposure from wireless phone use.
10. What about children using wireless phones?
The scientific evidence does not show a danger to users of wireless phones, including children and teenagers.
If you want to take steps to lower exposure to Radio Frequency (RF) energy, the measures described above
would apply to children and teenagers using wireless phones. Reducing the time of wireless phone use and
increasing the distance between the user and the RF source will reduce RF exposure.
Some groups sponsored by other national governments have advised that children be discouraged from using
wireless phones at all. For example, the government in the United Kingdom distributed leaflets containing such
a recommendation in December 2000. They noted that no evidence exists that using a wireless phone causes
brain tumors or other ill effects. Their recommendation to limit wireless phone use by children was strictly
precautionary; it was not based on scientific evidence that any health hazard exists.
11. What about wireless phone interference with medical equipment?
Radio Frequency (RF) energy from wireless phones can interact with some electronic devices. For this reason,
the FDA helped develop a detailed test method to measure Electro Magnetic Interference (EMI) of implanted
cardiac pacemakers and defibrillators from wireless telephones. This test method is now part of a standard
sponsored by the Association for the Advancement of Medical Instrumentation (AAMI). The final draft, a joint
effort by the FDA, medical device manufacturers, and many other groups, was completed in late 2000. This
standard will allow manufacturers to ensure that cardiac pacemakers and defibrillators are safe from wireless
phone EMI.
The FDA has tested hearing aids for interference from handheld wireless phones and helped develop a
voluntary standard sponsored by the Institute of Electrical and Electronic Engineers (IEEE). This standard
specifies test methods and performance requirements for hearing aids and wireless phones so that no
interference occurs when a person uses a "compatible" phone and a "compatible" hearing aid at the same
time. This standard was approved by the IEEE in 2000.
The FDA continues to monitor the use of wireless phones for possible interactions with other medical devices.
Should harmful interference be found to occur, the FDA will conduct testing to assess the interference and
work to resolve the problem.
12. Where can I find additional information?
For additional information, please refer to the following resources:
FDA web page on wireless phones
(http://www.fda.gov/Radiation-EmittingProducts/RadiationEmittingProductsandProcedures/
HomeBusinessandEntertainment/CellPhones/default.htm)
Federal Communications Commission (FCC) RF Safety Program (http://www.fcc.gov/oet/rfsafety)
International Commission on Non-lonizing Radiation Protection (http://www.icnirp.de)
World Health Organization (WHO) International EMF Project (http://www.who.int/emf)
National Radiological Protection Board (UK) (http://www.hpa.org.uk/radiation/)
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