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Safety
consultation with the FDA and the other
federal health and safety agencies. The FCC
limit for RF exposure from wireless phones
is set at a Specific Absorption Rate (SAR)
of 1.6 watts per kilogram (1.6 W/kg). The
FCC limit is consistent with the safety
standards developed by the Institute of
Electrical and Electronic Engineering (IEEE)
and the National Council on Radiation
Protection and Measurement. The exposure
limit takes into consideration the body’s
ability to remove heat from the tissues that
absorb energy from the wireless phone and
is set well below levels known to have
effects. Manufacturers of wireless phones
must report the RF exposure level for each
model of phone to the FCC. The FCC
website (
http://www.fcc.gov/oet/rfsafety)
gives directions for locating the FCC
identification number on your phone so
you can find your 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 (RF) energy 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.