Fda Consumer Update - Hyundai PC-7100 User Manual

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FDA CONSUMER UPDATE

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U.S. Food and Drug Administration -Center for
Devices and Radiological Health Consumer Update
on Wireless Phones
1. Do wireless phones pose a health hazard?
The available scientific evidence does not show that any health problems are associated with
using wireless phones. There is no proof, however, that wireless phones are absolutely safe.
Wireless phones emit low levels of radiofrequency energy (RF) in the microwave range while
being used. They also emit very low levels of RF when in the stand-by mode. Whereas high levels
of RF can produce health effects (by heating tissue), exposure to low level RF that does not
produce heating effects causes no known adverse health effects. Many studies of low level
RF exposures have not found any biological effects. Some studies have suggested that some
biological effects may occur, but such findings have not been confirmed by additional research.
In some cases, other researchers have had difficulty in reproducing those studies, or in
determining the reasons for inconsistent results.
2. What is FDA's role concerning the safety of wireless phones?
Under the law, FDA does not review the safety of radiation-emitting consumer products such as
wireless phones before they can be sold, as it does with new drugs or medical devices. However,
the agency has authority to take action if wireless phones are shown to emit radiofrequency
energy (RF) at a level that is hazardous to the user. In such a case, FDA could require the
manufacturers of wireless phones to notify users of the health hazard and to repair, replace or
recall the phones so that the hazard no longer exists. Although the existing scientific data do
not justify FDA regulatory actions, FDA has urged the wireless phone industry to take a number
of steps, including the following:
• Support needed research into possible biological effects of RF of the type emitted by wireless
phones;
• 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 inter-agency 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 subject of the safety questions discussed in this
document.
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FDA CONSUMER UPDATE
3. What kinds of phones are the subject of this update?
The term "wireless phone" refers here to hand-held wireless phones with built-in antennas,
often called "cell," "mobile," or "PCS" phones. U.S. Food and Drug Administration -Center for
Devices and Radiological Health Consumer Update on Wireless Phones These types of wireless
phones can expose the user to measurable radiofrequency energy (RF) because of the short
distance between the phone and the user's head. These RF exposures are limited by Federal
Communications Commission safety guidelines that were developed with the advice of FDA and
other federal health and safety agencies. When the phone is located at greater distances from
the user, the exposure to RF is drastically lower because a person's RF exposure decreases rapidly
with increasing distance from 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.
4. 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.
5. 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 difficulties in measuring actual RF exposure during day-to-day use of
wireless phones. Many factors affect this measurement, such as the angle at which the phone is
held, or which model of phone is used.
6. 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 radiofrequency 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
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