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Safety Guidelines
FDA Consumer Update
The U.S. Food and Drug Administrationís Center for
Devices and Radiological Health Consumer Update on
Mobile Phones.
1.Do wireless phones pose a health hazard?
The available scientific evidence does not show that
any health problems are associated with using
wireless phones. There is no proof, however, that
wireless phones are absolutely safe. Wireless
phones emit low levels of radiofrequency energy (RF)
in the microwave range while being used. They also
emit very low levels of RF when in the standby mode.
Whereas high levels of RF can produce health
effects (by heating tissue), exposure to low level RF
that does not produce heating effects causes no
known adverse health effects. Many studies of low
level RF exposures have not found any biological
effects. Some studies have suggested that some
biological effects may occur, but such findings have
not been confirmed by additional research. In some
cases, other 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 radiofrequency 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