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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 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.
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.
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 “compatible” 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.
Which other federal agencies have responsibilities related to potential
RF health effects?
Certain agencies in the Federal Government have been involved in
monitoring, researching or regulating issues related to human exposure to
RF radiation. These agencies include the Food and Drug Administration
(FDA), the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), the Occupational
Safety and Health Administration (OSHA), the National Institute for
Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH), the National
Telecommunications and Information Administration (NTIA) and the
Department of Defense (DOD).
By authority of the Radiation Control for Health and Safety Act of 1968,
the Center for Devices and Radiological Health (CDRH) of the FDA
develops performance standards for the emission of radiation from
electronic products including X-ray equipment, other medical devices,
television sets, microwave ovens, laser products and sunlamps. The CDRH
established a product performance standard for microwave ovens in 1971
limiting the amount of RF leakage from ovens. However, the CDRH has
not adopted performance standards for other RF-emitting products. The
FDA is, however, the lead federal health agency in monitoring the latest
research developments and advising other agencies with respect to the
safety of RF-emitting products used by the public, such as cellular and
PCS phones.
The FDA's microwave oven standard is an emission standard (as
opposed to an exposure standard) that allows specific levels of
microwave leakage (measured at five centimeters from the oven surface).
The standard also requires ovens to have two independent interlock
systems that prevent the oven from generating microwaves the moment
that the latch is released or the door of the oven is opened. The FDA has
stated that ovens that meet its standards and are used according to the
manufacturer's recommendations are safe for consumer and industrial
use. More information is available from: www.fda.gov/cdrh
.
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