7. How can I find out how much Radio Frequency
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 Radio Frequency (RF) energy
exposures. The FCC established these guidelines in
consultation with the FDA and the other federal
health and safety agencies. The FCC limit for RF
exposure from wireless phones 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 the FDA done to measure the Radio
Frequency energy coming from wireless phones?
The Institute of Electrical and Electronic Engineers
(IEEE) is developing a technical standard for
measuring the Radio Frequency (RF) energy exposure
from wireless phones and other wireless handsets
with the participation 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.
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