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SAFETY
7. What steps can I take to reduce my exposure to radiofrequency
energy from my wireless phone?
If there is a risk from these products--and at this point we do not know that
there is--it is probably very small. But if you are concerned about avoiding even
potential risks, you can take a few simple steps to minimize your exposure to
radiofrequency energy (RF). Since time is a key factor in how much exposure a
person receives, reducing the amount of time spent using a wireless phone will
reduce RF exposure.
• If you must conduct extended conversations by wireless phone every day, you
could place more distance between your body and the 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.
8. 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.
9. 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.
10. 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.
SAFETY
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