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Health and Safety Information
307
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Occupational Safety and Health Administration
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National Telecommunications and Information
Administration
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The National Institutes of Health participates in some
interagency working group activities, as well.
FDA shares regulatory responsibilities for wireless phones
with the Federal Communications Commission (FCC). All
phones that are sold in the United States must comply with
FCC safety guidelines that limit RF exposure. FCC relies on
FDA and other health agencies for safety questions about
wireless phones.
FCC also regulates the base stations that the wireless phone
networks rely upon. While these base stations operate at
higher power than do the wireless phones themselves, the RF
exposures that people get from these base stations are
typically thousands of times lower than those they can get
from wireless phones. Base stations are thus not the primary
subject of the safety questions discussed in this document.
4. 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 (EMF)
Project since its inception in 1996. An influential result of this
work has been the development of a detailed agenda of
research needs that has driven the establishment of new
research programs around the world. The Project has also
helped develop a series of public information documents on
EMF issues.
Health and Safety Information
308
FDA and the Cellular Telecommunications & Internet
Association (CTIA) have a formal Cooperative Research and
Development Agreement (CRADA) to do research on wireless
phone safety. FDA provides the scientific oversight, obtaining
input from experts in government, industry, and academic
organizations. CTIA-funded research is conducted through
contracts to independent investigators. The initial research
will include both laboratory studies and studies of wireless
phone users. The CRADA will also include a broad assessment
of additional research needs in the context of the latest
research developments around the world.
5. What steps can I take to reduce my exposure to radio
frequency energy from my wireless phone?
If there is a risk from these products—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 exposure to radio
frequency energy (RF). Since time is a key factor in how
much exposure a person receives, reducing the amount of
time spent using a wireless phone will reduce RF exposure.
If you must conduct extended conversations by wireless
phone every day, you could place more distance between
your body and the source of the RF, since the exposure level
drops off dramatically with distance. For example, you could
use a headset and carry the wireless phone away from your
body or use a wireless phone connected to a remote antenna
Again, the scientific data do not demonstrate that wireless
phones are 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.