Table of Contents
Advertisement
researchers have had difficulty
in reproducing those studies, or
in determining the reasons for
inconsistent results.
2. What is the FDA's role
concerning the safety of
wireless phones?
Under the law, the 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 radio frequency
energy (RF) at a level that is
hazardous to the user. In such
a case, the 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, the 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.
The 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:
73
Advertisement
Table of Contents
