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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 radio frequency (RF) energy, 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 200
0.
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?
Radio frequency (RF) energy from wireless phones can interact with some electronic devices. For this
reason, the 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 the FDA, medical device manufacturers, and many other groups,
was completed in late 200
0.
This standard will allow manufacturers to ensure that cardiac pacemakers
and defibrillators are safe from wireless phone EMI. The 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 200
0.
The FDA continues to
monitor the use of wireless phones for possible interactions with other medical devices. Should harmful
interference be found to occur, the FDA will conduct testing to assess the interference and work to
resolve the problem.
Safety Guidelines
Safety Guidelines