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phone RF exposures. However,
none of the studies can answer
questions about long-term
exposures, since the average period
of phone use in these studies was
around three years.
5. What research is needed to
decide whether RF exposure from
wireless phones poses a health
risk?
A combination of laboratory
studies and epidemiological studies
of people actually using wireless
phones would provide some of the
data that are needed. Lifetime
animal exposure studies could be
completed in a few years. However,
very large numbers of animals
would be needed to provide
reliable proof of a cancer
promoting effect, if one exists.
Epidemiological studies can
provide data that is directly
applicable to human populations,
but ten or more years follow-up
may be needed to provide answers
about some health effects, such as
cancer. This is because the interval
between the time of exposure to a
cancer-causing agent and the time
tumors develop — if they do —
may be many, many years. The
interpretation of epidemiological
studies is hampered by difficulties
in measuring actual RF exposure
during day-to-day use of wireless
phones. Many factors affect this
measurement, such as the angle at
which the phone is held, or which
model of phone is used.
6. What is the FDA doing to find
out more about the possible
health effects of wireless phone
RF?
The FDA is working with the U.S.
National Toxicology Program and
with groups of investigators around
the world to ensure that high
priority animal studies are
conducted to address important
questions about the effects of
exposure to Radio Frequency (RF)
energy.
The FDA has been a leading
participant in the World Health
Organization International Electro
Magnetic Fields (EMF) Project
since its inception in 1996. An
influential result of this work has
been the development of a
detailed agenda of research needs
that has driven the establishment
of new research programs around