Nokia RM-325 User Manual page 61

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The National Institutes of Health participates in some interagency 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 primary subject
of the safety questions discussed in this document.
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 around the world. The Project has also helped develop a series of
public information documents on EMF issues. FDA and the 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 radiofrequency 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 radiofrequency 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
A P P E N D I X
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