harmful. But if you are concerned about the RF exposure from these
products, you can use measures like those described above to reduce
your RF exposure from wireless phone use.
What about children using wireless phones?
The scientific evidence does not show a danger to users of wireless
phones, including children and teenagers. If you want to take steps to
lower exposure to radio frequency energy (RF), the measures described
above would apply to children and teenagers using wireless phones.
Reducing the time of wireless phone use and increasing the distance
between the user and the RF source will reduce RF exposure.
Some groups sponsored by other national governments have advised that
children be discouraged from using wireless phones at all. For example,
the government in the United Kingdom distributed leaflets containing such
a recommendation in December 2000. They noted that no evidence exists
that using a wireless phone causes brain tumors or other ill effects. Their
recommendation to limit wireless phone use by children was strictly
precautionary; it was not based on scientific evidence that any health
hazard exists.
Do hands-free kits for wireless phones reduce risks from exposure
to RF emissions?
Since there are no known risks from exposure to RF emissions from
wireless phones, there is no reason to believe that hands-free kits reduce
risks. Hands-free kits can be used with wireless phones for convenience
and comfort. These systems reduce the absorption of RF energy in the
head because the phone, which is the source of the RF emissions, will not
be placed against the head. On the other hand, if the phone is mounted
against the waist or other part of the body during use, then that part of
the body will absorb more RF energy. Wireless phones marketed in the
U.S. are required to meet safety requirements regardless of whether they
are used against the head or against the body. Either configuration should
result in compliance with the safety limit.
Do wireless phone accessories that claim to shield the head from
RF radiation work?
Since there are no known risks from exposure to RF emissions from
wireless phones, there is no reason to believe that accessories that 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 “hand-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. In
February 2002, the Federal trade Commission (FTC) charged two
companies that sold devices that claimed to protect wireless phone users
from radiation with making false and unsubstantiated claims. According to
