Nokia 5140 User Manual page 130

A p p e n d i c e s
the source. The so-called cordless phones; which have a base unit connected to
the telephone wiring in a house, typically operate at far lower power levels, and
thus produce RF exposures far below the FCC safety limits.
• 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.
• 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
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