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99.. WWhhaatt sstteeppss ccaann II ttaakkee ttoo rreedduuccee mmyy eexxppoossuurree ttoo rraaddiioo
ffrreeqquueennccyy eenneerrggyy ffrroomm mmyy wwiirreelleessss pphhoonnee??
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.
1100.. WWhhaatt aabboouutt cchhiillddrreenn uussiinngg wwiirreelleessss pphhoonneess??
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 Radio Frequency 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.
1111.. WWhhaatt aabboouutt wwiirreelleessss pphhoonnee iinntteerrffeerreennccee wwiitthh mmeed
diiccaall
eeqquuiippmmeenntt??
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 from wireless phone EMI.
The FDA has tested hearing aids for interference from handheld
wireless phones and helped develop a voluntary standard
sponsored by the Institute of Electrical and Electronic Engineers
(IEEE). This standard specifies test methods and performance
requirements for hearing aids and wireless phones so that no
interference occurs when a person uses a “compatible” phone
and a “compatible” hearing aid at the same time. This standard
was approved by the IEEE in 2000.
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