agencies. The FCC limit for RF exposure from wireless
telephones is set at a Specific Absorption Rate (SAR) of 1.6
watts per kilogram (1.6 W/kg). The FCC limit is consistent with
the safety standards developed by the Institute of Electrical and
Electronic Engineering (IEEE) and the National Council on
Radiation Protection and Measurement. The exposure limit
takes into consideration the body’s ability to remove heat from
the tissues that absorb energy from the wireless phone and is set
well below levels known to have effects. Manufacturers of
wireless phones must report the RF exposure level for each
model of phone to the FCC. The FCC website (http://
www.fcc.gov/oet/rfsafety) gives directions for locating the FCC
identification number on your phone so you can find your
phone’s RF exposure level in the online listing.
• What has FDA done to measure the radiofrequency energy
coming from wireless phones? The Institute of Electrical and
Electronic Engineers (IEEE) is developing a technical standard
for measuring the radiofrequency energy (RF) exposure from
wireless phones and other wireless handsets with the
participation and leadership of FDA scientists and engineers.
The standard, Recommended Practice for Determining the
Spatial-Peak Specific Absorption Rate (SAR) in the Human
Body Due to Wireless Communications Devices: Experimental
Techniques, sets forth the first consistent test methodology for
measuring the rate at which RF is deposited in the heads of
wireless phone users. The test method uses a tissue-simulating
model of the human head. Standardized SAR test methodology
is expected to greatly improve the consistency of measurements
made at different laboratories on the same phone. SAR is the
measurement of the amount of energy absorbed in tissue, either
by the whole body or a small part of the body. It is measured in
watts/kg (or milliwatts/g) of matter. This measurement is used
to determine whether a wireless phone complies with safety
guidelines.
• 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.
• 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.
• What about wireless phone interference with medical
equipment? Radio frequency 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
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