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● 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 effects of wireless
phone use on human health.
The FDA belongs to an interagency working group of the
federal agencies that have responsibility for different aspects of
RF safety to ensure coordinated efforts at the federal level. The
following agencies belong to this working group:
● National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health
● Environmental Protection Agency
● Occupational Safety and Health Administration
● National Telecommunications and Information Administration
The National Institutes of Health participates in some
interagency working group activities, as well.
The FDA shares regulatory responsibilities for wireless phones
with the Federal Communications Commission (FCC). All
phones that are sold in the United States must comply with
FCC safety guidelines that limit RF exposure. The FCC relies on
the FDA and other health agencies for safety questions about
wireless phones.
The FCC also regulates the base stations that the wireless
phone networks rely upon. While these base stations operate at
higher power than do the wireless phones themselves, the RF
exposures that people get from these base stations are typically
thousands of times lower than those they can get from wireless
phones. Base stations are thus not the subject of the safety
questions discussed in this document.
Safety
Safety
FDA Consumer Update
The U.S. Food and Drug Administration’s 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:
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