Health and Safety Information 165
Consumer Information on Wireless Phones
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.
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.
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.
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
