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Safety Guidelines
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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 tissuesimulating 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