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1. Do wireless phones pose a health hazard?
The available scientific evidence does not show that any health problems ar e
associat ed with using wireless phones. There is no proof, however, that wireless
phones ar e absolutely safe. Wireless phones emit low levels of radiofr
equency
energy (RF) in the micr owave range while being used. They also emit very
low levels of RF when in the idle mode. Whereas high levels of RF can produce
health effect s (by heating tissue), exposure to low level RF that does not produce
he
ating effect s ca uses no known adverse health effects. Many studies of low
level RF exposures have not found any biological effects. Some studies have
suggested that some biological effects may occur, but such findings have not
been
confirmed by additional research. In some cases, other resear chers have
had difficulty in reproducing those studies, or in determining the reasons for
inconsistent results.
2. What is FDA’s role concerning the safety of wireless phones?
Under the law, FDA does not review the safety of radiation-emitting consumer
products such as wir eless phones before they can be sold, as it does with new
drugs or medical devices. However, the agency has authority to
take action if
wir eless phones are shown to emit radiofrequency energy (RF) at a level that
is hazar dous to the user. In such a case, FDA could requir e the manufacturers of
wir eless phones to notify users of the health hazar d and to r
epair, replace or recall
the phones so that the hazar d no longer exists. Although the existing scientific
data do not justify FDA regulatory actions, FDA has urged the wireless phone
industry to take a number o
f steps, including the following:
•
Support needed resear ch into possible biological effects of RF of the type
emitted by wireless phones;
•
Design wireless phones in a way that minimizes any RF exposure to the user that
is not necessary for device function;
and
•
Cooperate in providing users of wir eless phones with the best possible
information on possible effects of wireless phone use on human health.
FDA belongs to an interagency working gr oup of the federal agencies that have
respo
nsibility for different aspects of RF safety to ensure c oordinated efforts at the
federal level. The following agencies belong to this working gr oup:
•
National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health
•
Envir onmental Protection Agency
•
Federal Communications Commission
•
Occupational Safety and Health Administration
•
National Telecommunications and Information Administration
The National Institutes of Health participates in some inter-agency working group
activities, as well. FDA shar es regulatory responsibilities for wir eless phones with
the Federal Communications Commissio
n (FCC). All phones that are sold in the
United States must comply with FCC safety guidelines that limit RF exposure.
FCC relies on FDA and other health agencies for safety questions about wireless
phones. FCC also regulates the ba
se stations that the wireless phone networks
rely upon. While these base stations operate at higher power than do the wireless
phones themselves, the RF exposures that people get from these base stations are
typically thousands of tim
es lower than those they can get from wireless phones.
Base stations are thus not the subject of the safety questions discussed in this
document.
3. What kinds of phones are the subject of this update?
The term “wireless phone” refers here to hand-held wireless phones with built-in
antennas, often called “cell,” “mobile,” or “PCS” phones. These types of wireless
phones can expose the user to measurable radiofrequency energy (RF) because of
the short distanc
e between the phone and the user’s head.