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FDA Consumer Update
The U.S. Food and Drug Administration Centre
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:
Ź Support needed research into possible
biological effects of RF of the type
emitted by wireless phones;
Safety Guidelines