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Health and Safety Information 173
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 radio frequency 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.
Do hands-free kits for wireless phones reduce risks from
exposure to RF emissions?
Since there are no known risks from exposure to RF emissions
from wireless phones, there is no reason to believe that hands-
free kits reduce risks. Hands-free kits can be used with wireless
phones for convenience and comfort. These systems reduce the
absorption of RF energy in the head because the phone, which is
the source of the RF emissions, will not be placed against the
head. On the other hand, if the phone is mounted against the
waist or other part of the body during use, then that part of the
body will absorb more RF energy. Wireless phones marketed in
the U.S. are required to meet safety requirements regardless of
whether they are used against the head or against the body.
Either configuration should result in compliance with the safety
limit.
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.