Health And Safety Information - Samsung SGH-F310 Manual

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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.
FDA and Cellular Telecommunications &
Internet Association (CTIA) have a formal
Cooperative Research and Development
Agreement (CRADA) to do research on
wireless phone safety. FDA provides the
scientific oversight, obtaining input from
experts in government, industry, and
academic organizations. CTIA-funded
research is conducted through contracts to
independent investigators. The initial
research will include both laboratory studies
and studies of wireless phone users. The
CRADA will also include a broad assessment
of additional research needs in the context of
the latest research developments around the
world.
What steps can I take to reduce my
exposure to radio frequency energy
from my wireless phone?
If there is a risk from these products - and at
this point we do not know that there is - it is
probably very small. But if you are concerned
about avoiding even potential risks, you can
take a few simple steps to minimize your
exposure to radio frequency energy (RF).
Since time is a key factor in how much
exposure a person receives, reducing the
amount of time spent using a wireless phone
will reduce RF exposure.
• "If you must conduct extended
conversations by wireless phone every
day, you could place more distance
between your body and the source of the
RF, since the exposure level drops off
dramatically with distance. For example,
you could use a headset and carry the
wireless phone away from your body or
use a wireless phone connected to a
remote antenna.
Again, the scientific data do not demonstrate
that wireless phones are harmful. But if you
are concerned about the RF exposure from
these products, you can use measures like
those described above to reduce your RF
exposure from wireless phone use.
What about children using wireless
phones?
The scientific evidence does not show a
danger to users of wireless phones, including
children 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
>> Health and safety information
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 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 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 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/
• Occupational Safety and Health
Administration's (OSHA):
http://www.osha.gov/SLTC/
radiofrequencyradiation/index.html
• National institute for Occupational Safety
and Health (NIOSH):
http://www.cdc.gov/niosh/emfpg.html
• World health Organization (WHO):
http://www.who.int/peh-emf/
• International Commission on Non-Ionizing
Radiation Protection:
http://www.icnirp.de
• National Radiation Protection Board (UK):
http://www.nrpb.org.uk
• Updated 4/3/2002: US food and Drug
Administration
http://www.fda.gov/cellphones