palmOne Vision Smart Device Treo 650 User Manual page 302

biological effects information is listed with other sites in conjunction with a question on other
sources of information, below.
Who funds and carries out research on the biological effects of RF energy?
Research into possible biological effects of RF energy is carried out in laboratories in the United
States and around the world. In the U.S., most research has been funded by the Department of
Defense, due to the extensive military use of RF equipment such as radar and high-powered
radio transmitters. In addition, some federal agencies responsible for health and safety, such as
the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA),
have sponsored and conducted research in this area. At the present time, most of the non-
military research on biological effects of RF energy in the U.S. is being funded by industry
organizations. More research is being carried out overseas, particularly in Europe.
In 1996, the World Health Organization (WHO) established the International EMF Project to
review the scientific literature and work towards resolution of health concerns over the use of
RF technology. WHO maintains a Web site that provides extensive information on this project
and about RF biological effects and research (www.who.ch/peh-emf).
FDA, EPA and other US government agencies responsible for public health and safety have
worked together and in connection with WHO to monitor developments and identify research
needs related to RF biological effects.
How does FCC Audit Cell Phone RF?
After FCC grants permission for a particular cellular telephone to be marketed, FCC will
occasionally conduct "post-grant" testing to determine whether production versions of the
phone are being produced to conform with FCC regulatory requirements. The manufacturer of a
cell phone that does not meet FCC's regulatory requirements may be required to remove the cell
phone from use and to refund the purchase price or provide a replacement phone, and may be
subject to civil or criminal penalties. In addition, if the cell phone presents a risk of injury to the
user, FDA may also take regulatory action. The most important post-grant test, from a
consumer's perspective, is testing of the RF emissions of the phone. FCC measures the Specific
Absorption Rate (SAR) of the phone, following a very rigorous testing protocol. As is true for
nearly any scientific measurement, there is a possibility that the test measurement may be less
than or greater than the actual RF emitted by the phone. This difference between the RF test
measurement and actual RF emission is because test measurements are limited by instrument
290 Safety