12. Where can I find additional information?
For additional information, please refer to the following resources:
- FDA web page on wireless phones:
(http://www.fda.gov/cdrh/phones/index.html)
- Federal Communications Commission (FCC) RF Safety
Program: (http://www.fcc.gov/oet/rfsafety)
- International Commission on Non-Ionizing Radiation Protection:
(http://www.icnirp.de)
- World Health Organization (WHO) International EMF Project:
(http://www.who.int/emf)
- National Radiological Protection Board (UK):
(http://www.nrpb.org.uk/)
Chapter 11 - Page 149
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 recommen-
dation 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.
11. 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 devel-
op 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, med-
ical device manufacturers, and many other groups, was complet-
ed 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 wire-
less phones and helped develop a voluntary standard sponsored
by the Institute of Electrical and Electronic Engineers (IEEE). This
standard specifies test methods and performance requirements for
hearing aids and wireless phones so that that no interference
occurs when a person uses a “compatible” phone and a “compat-
ible” hearing aid at the same time. This standard was approved by
the IEEE in 2000.
FDA continues to monitor the use of wireless phones for possible
interactions with other medical devices. Should harmful interfer-
ence be found to occur, FDA will conduct testing to assess the
interference and work to resolve the problem.
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