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Safety
acoustic neuroma, tumors of the
brain or salivary gland, leukemia, or
other cancers. None of the studies
demonstrated the existence of any
harmful health effects from wireless
phone RF exposures. However, none
of the studies can answer questions
about long-term exposures, since
the average period of phone use in
these studies was around three
years.
5. What research is needed to
decide whether RF exposure from
wireless phones poses a health
risk?
A combination of laboratory studies
and epidemiological studies of
people actually using wireless
phones would provide some of the
data that are needed. Lifetime
animal exposure studies could be
completed in a few years. However,
very large numbers of animals would
be needed to provide reliable proof
of a cancer promoting effect, if one
exists. Epidemiological studies can
provide data that is directly
applicable to human populations,
but ten or more years follow-up may
be needed to provide answers
about some health effects, such as
cancer. This is because the interval
between the time of exposure to a
cancer-causing agent and the time
tumors develop — if they do —
may be many, many years. The
interpretation of epidemiological
studies is hampered by difficulties in
measuring actual RF exposure
during day-to-day use of wireless
phones. Many factors affect this
measurement, such as the angle at
which the phone is held, or which
model of phone is used.
6. What is the FDA doing to find
out more about the possible
health effects of wireless phone
RF?
The 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 Radio Frequency (RF)
energy.
The FDA has been a leading
participant in the World Health
Organization International Electro
Magnetic Fields (EMF) Project since
its inception in 1996. An influential