Health and safety information
58
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.
6. 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.