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Engineering (IEEE) and the National
Council on Radiation Protection and
Measurement. The exposure limit
takes into consideration the body’s
ability to remove heat from the
tissues that absorb energy from the
wireless phone and is set well
below levels known to have effects.
Manufacturers of wireless phones
must report the RF exposure level
for each model of phone to the FCC.
The FCC website
(http://www.fcc.gov/oet/rfsafety)
gives directions for locating the FCC
identification number on your
phone so you can find your phone’s
RF exposure level in the online
listing.
8. What has the FDA done to
measure the Radio Frequency
energy coming from wireless
phones?
The Institute of Electrical and
Electronic Engineers (IEEE) is
developing a technical standard for
measuring the Radio Frequency
(RF) energy exposure from wireless
phones and other wireless
handsets with the participation and
leadership of FDA scientists and
engineers. The standard,
“Recommended Practice for
Determining the Spatial-Peak
Specific Absorption Rate (SAR) in
the Human Body Due to Wireless
Communications Devices:
Experimental Techniques”, sets
forth the first consistent test
methodology for measuring the rate
at which RF is deposited in the
heads of wireless phone users. The
test method uses a tissue-
simulating model of the human
head. Standardized SAR test
methodology is expected to greatly
improve the consistency of
measurements made at different
laboratories on the same phone.
SAR is the measurement of the
amount of energy absorbed in
tissue, either by the whole body or
a small part of the body. It is
measured in watts/kg (or
milliwatts/g) of matter. This
measurement is used to determine
whether a wireless phone complies
with safety guidelines.
9. 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
