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demonstrate that wireless devices 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 device use.
10. What about children using wireless devices?
The scientic evidence does not show a danger to users of wireless devices, 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 devices.
Reducing the time of wireless device 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 devices at all. For example, the government in the United
Kingdom distributed leaets containing such a recommendation in December 2000.
They noted that no evidence exists that using a wireless device causes brain tumors or
other ill eects. Their recommendation to limit wireless device use by children was strictly
precautionary; it was not based on scientic evidence that any health hazard exists.
11. What about wireless device interference with medical equipment?
Radiofrequency energy (RF) from wireless devices 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 debrillators from wireless
telephones. This test method is now part of a standard sponsored by the Association for the
Advancement of Medical instrumentation (AAMI). The nal draft, a joint eort 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 debrillators are safe from
wireless device EMI.
FDA has tested hearing aids for interference from handheld wireless devices and helped
develop a voluntary standard sponsored by the Institute of Electrical and Electronic Engineers
(IEEE). This standard species test methods and performance requirements for hearing aids
and wireless devices so that that no interference occurs when a person uses a “compatible”
device 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 devices 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.