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SAFETY
RF EMISSIONS
(from verzonwireless.com):
CONSUMER INFORMATION ABOUT RADIO FREQUENCY EMISSIONS
Your wireless phone, which contains a radio transmitter and receiver, emits radio
frequency energy during use. The following consumer information addresses
commonly asked questions about the health effects of wireless phones.
ARE WIRELESS PHONES SAFE?
Scientific research on the subject of wireless phones and radio frequency ("RF")
energy has been conducted worldwide for many years, and continues. In the
United States, the Food and Drug Administration ("FDA") and the Federal
Communications Commission ("FCC") set policies and procedures for wireless
phones. The FDA issued a website publication on health issues related to cell
phone usage where it states, "The scientific community at large ... believes that
the weight of scientific evidence does not show an association between exposure
to radiofrequency (RF) from cell phones and adverse health outcomes. Still the
scientific community does recommend conducting additional research to address
gaps in knowledge. That research is being conducted around the world and FDA
continues to monitor developments in this field." You can access the FDA website
at http://www.fda.gov/cellphones. You can also contact the FDA toll-free at (888)
174
463-6332 or (888) INFO-FDA. The FCC issued its own website publication stating
that "[t]here is no scientific evidence that proves that wireless telephone usage
can lead to cancer or other problems, including headaches, dizziness or memory
loss." This publication is available at http://www.fcc.gov/cgb/consumerfacts/
mobilephone.html or through the FCC at (888) 225-5322 or (888) CALL-FCC. The
National Cancer Institute ("NCI") states that concerns about the potential health
effects of using cellular phones ? "and specifically the suggestion that using a cell
phone may increase a person's risk of developing brain cancer ? are not supported
by a growing body of research on the subject." You can access NCI's review of the
research at http://www.cancer.gov/ncicancerbulletin/NCI_Cancer_Bulletin_092308/
page7.
WHAT DOES "SAR" MEAN?
In 1996, the FCC, working with the FDA, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency,
and other agencies, established RF exposure safety guidelines for wireless phones
in the United States. Before a wireless phone model is available for sale to the
public, it must be tested by the manufacturer and certified to the FCC that it does
not exceed limits established by the FCC. One of these limits is expressed as a
Specific Absorption Rate, or "SAR". SAR is a measure of the rate of absorption of
RF energy in the body. Tests for SAR are conducted with the phone transmitting
at its highest power level in all tested frequency bands. Since 1996, the FCC has
SAFETY
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