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FDA CONSUMER UPDATE
SAFETY AND WARRANTY
10. What about children using wireless phones?
The scientific evidence does not show a danger to users of wireless
phones, including children and teenagers. If you want to take steps to
lower exposure to radiofrequency energy (RF), the measures described
above would apply to children and teenagers using wireless phones.
Reducing the time of wireless phone use and increasing the distance
between the user and the RF source will reduce RF exposure. Some
groups sponsored by other national governments have advised that
children be discouraged from using wireless phones at all. For example,
the government in the United Kingdom distributed leaflets 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.
11. What about wireless phone interference with medical
equipment?
Radiofrequency energy (RF) from wireless phones can interact with some
electronic devices. For this reason, FDA helped develop a detailed test
method to measure electromagnetic interference (EMI) of implanted
cardiac pacemakers and defibrillators from wireless telephones. This test
method is now part of a standard sponsored by the Association for the
Advancement of Medical instrumentation (AAMI). The final draft, a joint
effort by FDA, medical device manufacturers, and many other groups,
was completed in late 2000. This standard will allow manufacturers to
ensure that cardiac pacemakers and defibrillators are safe from wireless
phone EMI. FDA has tested hearing aids for interference from handheld
wireless phones and helped develop a voluntary standard sponsored by
the Institute of Electrical and Electronic Engineers (IEEE). This standard
specifies test methods and performance requirements for hearing aids
and wireless phones so that no interference occurs when a person uses a
“compatible” phone and a “compatible” hearing aid at the same time.
This standard was approved by the IEEE in 2000. FDA continues to
monitor the use of wireless phones for possible interactions with other
medical devices. Should harmful interference be found to occur, FDA will
conduct testing to assess the interference and work to resolve the
problem.
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SAFETY AND WARRANTY
FDA CONSUMER UPDATE
8. What has FDA done to measure the radiofrequency energy
coming from wireless phones ?
The Institute of Electrical and Electronic Engineers (IEEE) is developing a
technical standard for measuring the radiofrequency energy (RF)
exposure from wireless phones and other wireless handsets with the
participation and leadership of FDA scientists and engineers.
The standard, “Recommended Practice for Determining the Spatial-Peak
Specific Absorption Rate (SAR) in the Human Body Due to Wireless
Communications Devices: Experimental Techniques,” sets forth the first
consistent test methodology for measuring the rate at which RF is
deposited in the heads of wireless phone users. The test method uses a
tissue-simulating model of the human head. Standardized SAR test
methodology is expected to greatly improve the consistency of
measurements made at different laboratories on the same phone. SAR is
the measurement of the amount of energy absorbed in tissue, either by
the whole body or a small part of the body. It is measured in watts/kg (or
milliwatts/g) of matter. This measurement is used to determine whether
a wireless phone complies with safety guidelines.
9. 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.
Again, the scientific data do not demonstrate that wireless phones are
harmful. But if you are concerned about the RF exposure from these
products, you can use measures like those described above to reduce
your RF exposure from wireless phone use.
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