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• Design wireless phones in a way that
minimizes any RF exposure to the user that is
not necessary for device function; and
• Cooperate in providing users of wireless
phones with the best possible information on
possible effects of wireless phone use on
human health
FDA belongs to an interagency working group of the
federal agencies that have responsibility for different
aspects of RF safety to ensure coordinated efforts at
the federal level. The following agencies belong to
this working group:
• National Institute for Occupational Safety and
Health
• Environmental Protection Agency Federal
Communications Commission
• Occupational Safety and Health Administration
• National Telecommunications and Information
Administration
• The National Institutes of Health participates in
some interagency working group activities, as
well.
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 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 radio frequency 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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