Samsung SCH-a645 Series, User Manual

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Section 14: Health and Safety Information 189
Consumer Information on Wireless Phones
Section 14
What research is needed to decide whether RF exposure
from wireless phones poses a health risk?
A combination of laboratory studies and
epidemiological studies of people actually using
wireless phones would provide some of the data that
are needed. Lifetime animal exposure studies could be
completed in a few years. However, very large numbers
of animals would be needed to provide reliable proof of
a cancer promoting effect if one exists. Epidemiological
studies can provide data that is directly applicable to
human populations, but ten or more years' follow-up
may be needed to provide answers about some health
effects, such as cancer. This is because the interval
between the time of exposure to a cancer-causing agent
and the time tumors develop - if they do - may be
many, many years. The interpretation of
epidemiological studies is hampered by difficulties in
measuring actual RF exposure during day-to-day use
of wireless phones. Many factors affect this
measurement, such as the angle at which the phone is
held, or which model of phone is used.
What is FDA doing to find out more about the possible
health effects of wireless phone RF?
FDA is working with the U.S. National Toxicology
Program and with groups of investigators around the
world to ensure that high priority animal studies are
conducted to address important questions about the
effects of exposure to radio frequency energy (RF).
FDA has been a leading participant in the World Health
Organization international Electromagnetic Fields