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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.
10. What about children using wireless
phones?
The scientific evidence does not show
a danger to users of wireless phones,
including children and teenagers. If you
want to take steps to lower exposure to
radiofrequency energy (RF), the measures
described above would apply to children
and teenagers using wireless phones.
Reducing the time of wireless phone use
and increasing the distance between
the user and the RF source will reduce
RF exposure. Some groups sponsored by
other national governments have advised
that children be discouraged from using
wireless phones at all. For example,
the government in the United Kingdom
distributed leaflets containing such a
recommendation in December 2000. They
noted that no evidence exists that using
a wireless phone causes brain tumors or
other ill effects. Their recommendation to
limit wireless phone use by children was
strictly precautionary; it was not based on
scientific evidence that any health hazard
exists.
11. What about wireless phone
interference with medical equipment?
Radio frequency energy (RF) from wireless
phones can interact with some electronic
devices. For this reason, the FDA helped
develop a detailed test method to measure
electromagnetic interference (EMI) of
implanted cardiac pacemakers and
defibrillators from wireless telephones.
This test method is now part of a standard
sponsored by the Association for the
Advancement of Medical instrumentation
(AAMI). The final draft, a joint effort by
the FDA, medical device manufacturers,
and many other groups, was completed
in late 2000. This standard will allow
manufacturers to ensure that cardiac
pacemakers and defibrillators are safe
Safety Guidelines