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model of phone to the FCC. The FCC website
(http://www.fcc.gov/oet/ rfsafety) gives directions for locating the
FCC identification number on your phone so you can find your
phone’s RF exposure level in the online listing.
8.What has the FDA done to measure the radio
frequency energy coming from wireless
phones?
The Institute of Electrical and Electronic Engineers (IEEE) is
developing a technical standard for measuring the radio
frequency 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.
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?
Radio frequency energy (RF) from wireless phones can interact
with some electronic devices. For this reason, the FDA helped
develop a detailed test method to measure electromagnetic
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