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Consumer Information on Wireless
Phones
The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has
published a series of Questions and Answers for
consumers relating to radio frequency (RF) exposure
from wireless phones. The FDA publication includes
the following information:
What kinds of phones are the subject
of this update?
The term wireless phone refers here to hand-held
wireless phones with built-in antennas, often called
“cell,” “mobile,” or “PCS” phones. These types of
wireless phones can expose the user to measurable
radio frequency energy (RF) because of the short
distance between the phone and the user's head.
These RF exposures are limited by Federal
Communications Commission safety guidelines that
were developed with the advice of FDA and other
federal health and safety agencies. When the phone
is located at greater distances from the user, the
exposure to RF is drastically lower because a
person's RF exposure decreases rapidly with
increasing distance from the source. The so-called
“cordless phones,” which have a base unit
connected to the telephone wiring in a house,
typically operate at far lower power levels, and thus
produce RF exposures well within the FCC's
compliance limits.
Do wireless phones pose a health
hazard?
The available scientific evidence does not show that
any health problems are associated with using
wireless phones. There is no proof, however, that
wireless phones are absolutely safe. Wireless
phones emit low levels of radio frequency energy
(RF) in the microwave range while being used. They
also emit very low levels of RF when in the stand-by
mode. Whereas high levels of RF can produce
health effects (by heating tissue), exposure to low
