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Safety
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
“hands-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?
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.
FDA has tested hearing aids for interference from handheld wireless
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