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FDA CONSUMER UPDATE
8. What has FDA done to measure the radiofrequency
energy coming from wireless phones ?
The Institute of Electrical and Electronic Engineers
(IEEE) is developing a technical standard for measur-
ing the radiofrequency energy (RF) exposure from
wireless phones and other wireless handsets with the
participation and leader-ship of FDA scientists and
engineers. The standard, “Recommended Practice for
Determining the Spatial-Peak Specific Absorption Rate
(SAR) in the Human Body Due to Wireless
Communications Devices: Experimental Techniques,”
sets forth the first consistent test methodology for
measuring the rate at which RF is deposited in the
heads of wireless phone users. The test method uses
a tissue-simulating model of the human head.
Standardized SAR test methodology is expected to
greatly improve the consistency of measurements
made at different laboratories on the same phone. SAR
is the measurement of the amount of energy
absorbed in tissue, either by the whole body or a small
part of the body. It is measured in watts/kg (or milli-
watts/g) of matter. This measurement is used to deter-
mine whether a wireless phone complies with safety
guidelines.
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