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•SAFETY
(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.fda.gov
(under
“c” in the subject index, select
Cell Phones > Research
).)
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.
8. 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.
9. 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.
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
