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Safety
of the brain or salivary 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 longterm
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 ten 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 cancer-causing 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 Radio