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Appendix B: Message from the FDA
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.
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?
Radiofrequency energy (RF) from wireless phones can interact with some electronic devices. For
this reason, 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 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. 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
accompanied hearing aid at the same time. This standard was approved by the IEEE in 2000.
FDA continues to monitor the use of wireless phones for possible interactions with other
medical devices. Should harmful interference be found to occur, FDA will conduct testing to
assess the interference and work to resolve the problem.
12. Where can I find additional information?
For additional information, please refer to the following resources:
• FDA web page on wireless phones
http://www.fda.gov/cdrh/phones/index.html
• Federal Communications Commission (FCC) RF Safety Program
http://www.fcc.gov/oet/rfsafety
• International Commission on Non-Ionizing Radiation Protection
http://www.icnirp.de
• World Health Organization (WHO) International EMF Project
http://www.who.int/emf
• National Radiological Protection Board (UK)
http://www.nrpb.org.uk/
July 18, 2001For updates: http://www.fda.gov/cdrh/phones