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13 7
FDA CONSUMER UPDATE
5. What research is needed to decide whether RF
exposure from wireless phones poses a health risk?
A combination of laboratory studies and epidemiologi-
cal 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 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 phones.
Many factors affect this measurement, such as the
angle at which the phone is held, or which model of
phone is used.
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