Safety Guidelines
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term exposures, 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 the FDA doing to find out more
about the possible health effects of
wireless phone RF?
The FDA is working with the U.S. National
Toxicology Program and with groups
of investigators 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). The 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 documents on EMF issues. The
FDA and the Cellular Telecommunications
& Internet Association (CTIA) have a formal
Cooperative Research and Development
