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Using Your Treo 700P Smartphone 295
Regulatory information
but 10 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 smartphones. Many factors
affect this measurement, such as the angle at which the
smartphone is held, or which model of smartphone is used.
What is FDA doing to find out more about the possible
health effects of wireless smartphone RF? 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 radiofrequency energy (RF).
FDA has been a leading participant in the World Health
Organization International Electromagnetic 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 the world. The Project has also helped develop a series of
public information documents on EMF issues.
FDA and the Cellular Telecommunications & Internet
Association (CTIA) have a formal Cooperative Research and
Development Agreement (CRADA) to do research on wireless
smartphone safety. FDA provides the scientific oversight,
obtaining input from experts in government, industry, and
academic organizations. CTIA-funded research is conducted
through contracts to independent investigators. The initial
research will include both laboratory studies and studies of
wireless smartphone users. The CRADA will also include a broad
assessment of additional research needs in the context of the
latest research developments around the world.
What steps can I take to reduce my exposure to
radiofrequency energy from my wireless smartphone? 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 radiofrequency
energy (RF). Since time is a key factor in how much exposure a
person receives, reducing the amount of time spent using a
wireless smartphone will reduce RF exposure.
If you must conduct extended conversations by wireless
smartphone 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 smartphone away from your
body or use a wireless smartphone connected to a remote
antenna.
Again, the scientific data do not demonstrate that wireless
smartphones 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
smartphone use.
What about children using wireless smartphones?
The scientific evidence does not show a danger to users of
wireless smartphones, 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 smartphones. Reducing the time of
wireless smartphone 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
smartphones 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 smartphone causes brain tumors or other ill effects.
Their recommendation to limit wireless smartphone use by
children was strictly precautionary; it was not based on scientific
evidence that any health hazard exists.
What about wireless smartphone interference with
medical equipment? Radiofrequency energy (RF) from
wireless smartphones 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