Safety
152
Safe
ty
FDA Consumer
Update
The U.S. Food and Drug
Administration’s Center for
Devices and Radiological Health
Consumer Update on Mobile
Phones:
1. Do wireless phones pose a
health hazard?
The available scientific evidence
does not show that any health
problems are associated with
using wireless phones. There is
no proof, however, that wireless
phones are absolutely safe.
Wireless phones emit low levels
of Radio Frequency (RF) energy
in the microwave range while
being used. They also emit very
low levels of RF when in standby
mode. Whereas high levels of RF
can produce health effects (by
heating tissue), exposure to low
level RF that does not produce
heating effects causes no known
adverse health effects. Many
studies of low level RF exposures
have not found any biological
effects. Some studies have
suggested that some biological
effects may occur, but such
findings have not been confirmed
by additional research. In some
cases, other researchers have had
difficulty in reproducing those
studies, or in determining the
reasons for inconsistent results.
2. What is the FDA's role
concerning the safety of
wireless phones?
Under the law, the FDA does not
review the safety of radiation-
emitting consumer products such
as wireless phones before they
can be sold, as it does with new
drugs or medical devices.
However, the agency has
authority to take action if
wireless phones are shown to
emit Radio Frequency (RF)
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