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FDA has tested hearing aids for interference from handheld 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 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.
12
.Where can I find additional information?
For additional information, please refer to the following resources:
• FDA web page on wireless phones
(http://www.fda.gov/cdrh/phones/index.html)
• Federal Communications Commission (FCC) RF Safety Program
(http://www.fcc.gov/oet/rfsafety)
• International Commission on Non-Ionizing Radiation Protection
(http://www.icnirp.de)
•World Health Organization (WHO) International EMF Project
(http://www.who.int/emf)
• National Radiological Protection Board (UK)
(http://www.nrpb.org.uk/)
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4A: Safety 195
source of the RF, since the exposure level drops off dramatically with
distance. For example, you could use a headset and carry the
wireless phone away from your body or use a wireless phone
connected to a remote antenna.
Again, the scientific data do not demonstrate that wireless phones are
harmful. But if you are concerned about the RF exposure from these
products, you can use measures like those described above to reduce your
RF exposure from wireless phone use.
10.
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 radiofrequency 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.
11.
What about wireless phone interference with medical equipment?
Radiofrequency 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.
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194 4A: Safety
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