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Chapter 10
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 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 sta-
tions are typically thousands of times lower than those they can get from wire-
less phones. Base stations are thus not the primary subject of the safety ques-
tions 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 Interna-
tional Electromagnetic Fields (EMF) Project since its inception in 1996. An in-
fluential 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 infor-
mation 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, ob-
taining input from experts in government, industry, and academic organiza-
tions. CTIA-funded research is conducted through contracts to independent
investigators. The initial research will include both laboratory studies and stud-
ies 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.