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Health and safety information
cases, while others involve nothing more than a metallic
accessory attached to the phone. Studies have shown that
these products generally do not work as advertised. Unlike
"hand-free" kits, these so-called "shields" may interfere
with proper operation of the phone. The phone may be
forced to boost its power to compensate, leading to an
increase in RF absorption. In February 2002, the Federal
trade Commission (FTC) charged two companies that sold
devices that claimed to protect wireless phone users from
radiation with making false and unsubstantiated claims.
According to FTC, these defendants lacked a reasonable
basis to substantiate their claim.
What about wireless phone interference with
medical equipment?
Radio frequency energy (RF) from wireless phones can
interact with some electronic devices. For this reason, FDA
helped develop a detailed test method to measure
electromagnetic 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
FDA, medical device manufacturers, and many other
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groups, was completed in late 2000. This standard will
allow manufacturers to ensure that cardiac pacemakers
and defibrillators are safe from wireless phone EMI. FDA
has tested 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.
FDA continues to monitor the use of wireless phones for
possible interactions with other medical devices. Should
harmful interference be found to occur, FDA will conduct
testing to assess the interference and work to resolve the
problem.
Additional information on the safety of RF exposures from
various sources can be obtained from the following
organizations:
•
FCC RF Safety Program:
http://www.fcc.gov/oet/rfsafety/
•
Environmental Protection Agency (EPA):
http://www.epa.gov/radiation/
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