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Safety
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
radio frequency 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 radio frequency 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.