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SAFETY
FDA CONSUMER UPDATE
U.S. Food and Drug Administration
Cell Phone Facts Consumer
Information on Wireless Phones
1. What kinds of phones are the subject of this update?
The term “wireless phone“ refers here to handheld 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 distance between the
phone and the user’s head. These RF exposures are limited by Federal
Communications Commission safety guidelines that were developed
with the advice of FDA and other federal health and safety agencies.
When the phone is located at greater distances from the user, the
exposure to RF is drastically lower because a person’s RF exposure
decreases rapidly with increasing distance from the source. The so-
called “cordless phones,“ which have a base unit connected to the
telephone wiring in a house, typically operate at far lower power levels,
and thus produce RF exposures well within the FCC’s compliance limits.
2. Do wireless phones pose a health hazard?
The available scientific evidence does not show that any health
problems are associated with using wireless phones. There is no proof,
however, that wireless phones are absolutely safe. Wireless phones emit
low levels of radiofrequency energy (RF) in the microwave range while
being used. They also emit very low levels of RF when in the standby
mode. Whereas high levels of RF can produce health effects (by heating
tissue), exposure to low level RF that does not produce heating effects
causes no known adverse health effects.
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