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and teenagers. If you want to take steps to
lower exposure to radio frequency energy (RF),
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.
Do hands-free kits for wireless phones
reduce risks from exposure to RF
emissions?
Since there are no known risks from exposure
to RF emissions from wireless phones, there is
no reason to believe that hands-free kits
reduce risks. Hands-free kits can be used with
wireless phones for convenience and comfort.
These systems reduce the absorption of RF
energy in the head because the phone, which is
Safety and usage information
the source of the RF emissions, will not be
placed against the head. On the other hand, if
the phone is mounted against the waist or
other part of the body during use, then that
part of the body will absorb more RF energy.
Wireless phones marketed in the U.S. are
required to meet safety requirements
regardless of whether they are used against
the head or against the body. Either
configuration should result in compliance with
the safety limit.
Do wireless phone accessories that claim
to shield the head from RF radiation work?
Since there are no known risks from exposure
to RF emissions from wireless phones, there is
no reason to believe that accessories that claim
to shield the head from those emissions reduce
risks. Some products that claim to shield the
user from RF absorption use special phone
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
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