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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.
How does FCC Audit Cell Phone RF?
After FCC grants permission for a particular cellular telephone to be marketed, FCC will
occasionally conduct "post-grant" testing to determine whether production versions of the
phone are being produced to conform with FCC regulatory requirements. The manufacturer
of a cell phone that does not meet FCC's regulatory requirements may be required to remove
the cell phone from use and to refund the purchase price or provide a replacement phone,
and may be subject to civil or criminal penalties. In addition, if the cell phone presents a risk
of injury to the user, FDA may also take regulatory action. The most important post-grant
test, from a consumer's perspective, is testing of the RF emissions of the phone. FCC
measures the Specific Absorption Rate (SAR) of the phone, following a very rigorous testing
protocol. As is true for nearly any scientific measurement, there is a possibility that the test
measurement may be less than or greater than the actual RF emitted by the phone. This
difference between the RF test measurement and actual RF emission is because test
measurements are limited by instrument accuracy, because test measurement and actual
use environments are different, and other variable factors. This inherent variability is known
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