• Design cell phones in a way that minimizes any RF exposure to the user; and
• Cooperate in providing users of cell phones with the current information on cell phone use and
human health concerns.
The FDA also is working with voluntary standard-setting bodies such as the Institute of Electrical and
Electronics Engineers (IEEE), the International Commission on Non-Ionizing Radiation Protection
(ICNIRP), and others to assure that safety standards continue to adequately protect the public.
Reducing Exposure: Hands-Free Kits and Other Accessories
Steps to Reduce Exposure to Radio Frequency Energy
If there is a risk from being exposed to radio frequency energy (RF) from cell phones - 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 RF exposure.
• Reduce the amount of time spent using your cell phone;
• Use speaker mode or a headset to place more distance between your head and the cell phone.
Hands-Free Kits
Hands-free kits may include audio or Bluetooth
®
headsets and various types of body-worn accessories
such as belt-clips and holsters. Combinations of these can be used to reduce RF energy absorption
from cell phones.
Headsets can substantially reduce exposure because the phone is held away from the head in the user’s
hand or in approved body-worn accessories. Cell phones marketed in the U.S. are required to meet RF
exposure compliance requirements when used against the head and against the body.
Because there are no known risks from exposure to RF emissions from cell phones, there is no reason
to believe that hands-free kits reduce risks. Hands-free kits can be used for convenience and comfort.
They are also required by law in many states if you want to use your phone while driving.
Cell Phone Accessories that Claim to Shield the Head from RF Radiation
Because there are no known risks from exposure to RF emissions from cell phones, there is no reason
to believe that accessories which claim to shield the head from those emissions reduce risks. Some
products that claim to shield the user from RF absorption use special phone cases, while others involve
nothing more than a metallic accessory attached to the phone.
Studies have shown that these products generally do not work as advertised. Unlike “hands-free” kits,
these so-called “shields” may interfere with proper operation of the phone. The phone may be forced to
boost its power to compensate, leading to an increase in RF absorption.
Children and Cell Phones
The scientific evidence does not show a danger to any users of cell phones from RF exposure, including
children and teenagers. The steps adults can take to reduce RF exposure apply to children and teenagers
as well.
• Reduce the amount of time spent on the cell phone;
• Use speaker mode or a headset to place more distance between the head and the cell phone.
Some groups sponsored by other national governments have advised that children be discouraged
from using cell phones at all. For example, The Stewart Report from the United Kingdom 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. Their recommendation
to limit cell phone use by children was strictly precautionary; it was not based on scientific evidence
that any health hazard exists.
Additional information on the safety of RF exposures from various sources can be obtained from the
following organizations (updated 10/1/2010):
• FCC RF Safety Program:
http://www.fcc.gov/oet/rfsafety/.
• Environmental Protection Agency (EPA):
http://www.epa.gov/radtown/wireless-tech.html.
• Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA):
http://www.osha.gov/SLTC/radiofrequencyradiation/.
(Note: This web address is case sensitive.)
• National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH):
http://www.cdc.gov/niosh/.
• World Health Organization (WHO):
http://www.who.int/peh-emf/en/.
• International Commission on Non-Ionizing Radiation Protection:
http://www.icnirp.de.
• Health Protection Agency:
http://www.hpa.org.uk/Topics/Radiation/.
• US Food and Drug Administration:
http://www.fda.gov/Radiation-EmittingProducts/RadiationEmittingProductsandProcedures/
HomeBusinessandEntertainment/CellPhones/default.htm.
Specific Absorption Rate (SAR) Certification Information
Your wireless phone is a radio transmitter and receiver. It is designed and manufactured not to exceed
the exposure limits for Radio Frequency (RF) energy set by the Federal Communications Commission
(FCC) of the U.S. Government.
These FCC RF exposure limits are derived from the recommendations of two expert organizations: the
National Council on Radiation Protection and Measurement (NCRP) and the Institute of Electrical and
Electronics Engineers (IEEE). In both cases, the recommendations were developed by scientific and
engineering experts drawn from industry, government, and academia after extensive reviews of the
scientific literature related to the biological effects of RF energy.
The RF exposure limit set by the FCC for wireless mobile phones employs a unit of measurement known
as the Specific Absorption Rate (SAR). The SAR is a measure of the rate of absorption of RF energy by
the human body expressed in units of watts per kilogram (W/kg). The FCC requires wireless phones
to comply with a safety limit of 1.6 watts per kilogram (1.6 W/kg). The FCC SAR limit incorporates a
substantial margin of safety to give additional protection to the public and to account for any variations
in measurements.
