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Section 4A: Safety 136
Do wireless phone accessories that claim to shield the head from RF
radiation work?
Since there are no known risks from exposure to RF emissions from wireless
phones, there is no reason to believe that accessories that claim to shield the
head from those emissions reduce risks. Some products that claim to shield the
user from RF absorption use special phone cases, while others involve nothing
more than a metallic accessory attached to the phone. Studies have shown that
these products generally do not work as advertised. Unlike “hand-free” kits,
these so-called “shields” may interfere with proper operation of the phone. The
phone may be forced to boost its power to compensate, leading to an increase
in RF absorption. In February 2002, the Federal trade Commission (FTC)
charged two companies that sold devices that claimed to protect wireless
phone users from radiation with making false and unsubstantiated claims.
According to FTC, these defendants lacked a reasonable basis to substantiate
their claim.
What about wireless phone interference with medical equipment?
Radio frequency 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 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.
Additional information on the safety of RF exposures from various sources can be
obtained from the following organizations:
Ⅲ FCC RF Safety Program:
http://www.fcc.gov/oet/rfsafety/
Ⅲ Environmental Protection Agency (EPA):
http://www.epa.gov/radiation/
Ⅲ Occupational Safety and health Administration's (OSHA):
http://www.osha.slc.gov/SLTC/radiofrequencyradiation/index.html
Ⅲ National institute for Occupational Safety and health (NIOSH):
http://www.cdc.gov/niosh/emfpg.html