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Do wireless phones pose any special risks to children?
The FDA/FCC website states that “the scientific evidence does not show a danger to
users of wireless communication devices, including children.” The FDA/FCC website
further states that “some groups sponsored by other national governments have
advised that children be discouraged from using wireless phones at all”. For example,
the Stewart Report from the United Kingdom [“UK”] made such a recommendation
in December 2000. In this report a group of independent experts noted that no
evidence exists that using a cell phone causes brain tumors or other ill effects. [The
UK’s] recommendation to limit cell phone use by children was strictly precautionary;
it was not based on scientific evidence that any health hazard exists. A copy of the
UK’s leaflet is available at http://www.dh.gov.uk (search “mobile”), or you can write to:
NRPB, Chilton, Didcot, Oxon OX11 ORQ, United Kingdom. Copies of the UK’s annual
reports on mobile phones and RF are available online at www.iegmp.org.uk and
http://www.hpa.org.uk/radiation/ (search “mobile”). Parents who wish to reduce their
children’s RF exposure may choose to restrict their children’s wireless phone use.
Where can I get further information about RF emissions?
For further information, see the following additional resources (websites current as of
April 2005):
U.S. Food and Drug Administration
FDA Consumer magazine November-December 2000 Telephone: (888) INFO-FDA
http://www.fda.gov (Under “c”in the subject index, select Cell Phones > Research.)
