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Safety and Warranty
Safety and Warranty
will include both laboratory studies and studies of wireless phone users. The CRADA will also include a broad
assessment of additional research needs in the context of the latest research developments around the world.
7. How can I find out how much radiofrequency energy exposure I can get by using my wireless phone?
All phones sold in the United States must comply with Federal Communications Commission (FCC) guidelines
that limit radiofrequency energy (RF) exposures. FCC established these guidelines in consultation with FDA and
the other federal health and safety 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.
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 participa-
tion 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 dis-
tance.
acteristic of wireless phones have yielded conflicting results that often cannot be repeated in other laboratories.
A few animal studies, however, have suggested that low levels of RF could accelerate the development of cancer
in laboratory animals.
However, many of the studies that showed increased tumor development used animals that had been geneti-
cally engineered or treated with cancer-causing chemicals so as to be predisposed to develop cancer in the
absence of RF exposure. Other studies exposed the animals to RF for up to 22 hours per day. These conditions
are not similar to the conditions under which people use wireless phones, so we don’t know with certainty what
the results of such studies mean for human health. Three large epidemiology studies have been published since
December 2000. Between them, the studies investigated any possible association between the use of wireless
phones and primary brain cancer, glioma, meningioma, or acoustic neu-roma, tumors of the brain or salivary
gland, leukemia, or other cancers. None of the studies demonstrated the existence of any harmful health effects
from wireless phone RF exposures. However, none of the studies can answer questions about long-term expo-
sures, since the average period of phone use in these studies was around three years.
5. What research is needed to decide whether RF exposure from wireless phones poses a health risk?
A combination of laboratory studies and epidemiological studies of people actually using wireless phones would
provide some of the data that are needed. Lifetime animal exposure studies could be completed in a few years.
However, very large numbers of animals would be needed to provide reliable proof of a cancer promoting effect
if one exists. Epidemiological studies can provide data that is directly applicable to human populations, but 10
or more years’ follow-up may be needed to provide answers about some health effects, such as cancer. This is
because the interval between the time of exposure to a cancer-causing agent and the time tumors develop - if
they do - may be many, many years. The interpretation of epidemiological studies is hampered by difficulties in
measuring actual RF exposure during day-to-day use of wireless phones. Many factors affect this measurement,
such as the angle at which the phone is held, or which model of phone is used.
6. What is FDA doing to find out more about the possible health effects of wireless phone RF?
FDA is working with the U.S. National Toxicology Program and with groups of inves-tigators around the world
to ensure that high priority animal studies are conducted to address important questions about the effects of
exposure to radiofrequency energy (RF). FDA has been a leading participant in the World Health Organization
International Electromagnetic Fields (EMF) Project since its inception in 1996. An influential result of this work
has been the development of a detailed agenda of research needs that has driven the establishment of new
research programs around the world. The Project has also helped develop a series of public information docu-
ments on EMF issues. FDA and the Cellular Telecommunications & Internet Association (CTIA) have a formal
Cooperative Research and Development Agreement (CRADA) to do research on wireless phone safety. FDA
provides the scientific oversight, obtaining input from experts in government, industry, and academic organiza-
tions. CTIA-funded research is conducted through contracts to independent investigators. The initial research
