Filter
Top Products
81
Safety Guidelines
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 10 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 cancercausing 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
radiofrequency energy (RF). The
FDA has been a leading participant