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Safety and Warranty
Safety and Warranty
•
World Health Organization (WHO) International EMF Project (
http://www.who.int/emf
)
•
National Radiological Protection Board (UK) (
http://www.hpa.org.uk/radiation/
)
AVOID POTENTIAL HEARING LOSS.
Prolonged exposure to loud sounds (including music) is the most common cause of preventable hearing loss.
Some scientific research suggests that using portable audio devices, such as portable music players and cellular
telephones, at high volume settings for long durations may lead to permanent noise-induced hearing loss.
This includes the use of headphones (including headsets, earbuds and Bluetooth® or other wireless devices).
Exposure to very loud sound has also been associated in some studies with tinnitus (a ringing in the ear), hyper-
sensitivity to sound and distorted hearing. Individual susceptibility to noise-induced hearing loss and other
potential hearing problems varies.
The amount of sound produced by a portable audio device varies depending on the nature of the sound, the
device, the device settings and the headphones. You should follow some commonsense recommendations when
using any portable audio device:
•
Set the volume in a quiet environment and select the lowest volume at which you can hear adequately.
•
When using headphones, turn the volume down if you cannot hear the people speaking near you or if
the person sitting next to you can hear what you are listening to.
•
Do not turn the volume up to block out noisy surroundings. If you choose to listen to your portable
device in a noisy environment, use noise-cancelling headphones to block out background environmental
noise.
•
Limit the amount of time you listen. As the volume increases, less time is required before your hearing
could be affected.
•
Avoid using headphones after exposure to extremely loud noises, such as rock concerts, that might cause
temporary hearing loss. Temporary hearing loss might cause unsafe volumes to sound normal.
•
Do not listen at any volume that causes you discomfort. If you experience ringing in your ears, hear
muffled speech or experience any temporary hearing difficulty after listening to your portable audio
device, discontinue use and consult your doctor.
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.
10. 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 radiofrequency 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. Some groups sponsored by other
national governments have advised that children be discouraged from using wireless phones at all. For example,
the government in the United Kingdom distributed leaflets containing such a recommendation in December
2000. They noted that no evidence exists that using a wireless phone causes brain tumors or other ill effects.
Their recommendation to limit wireless phone use by children was strictly precautionary; it was not based on
scientific evidence that any health hazard exists.
11. What about wireless phone interference with medical equipment?
Radiofrequency energy (RF) from wireless phones can interact with some electronic devices. For this reason,
FDA helped develop a detailed test method to measure electromagnetic interference (EMI) of implanted cardiac
pacemakers and defibrillators from wireless telephones. This test method is now part of a standard sponsored
by the Association for the Advancement of Medical instrumentation (AAMI). The final draft, a joint effort by FDA,
medical device manufacturers, and many other groups, was completed in late 2000. This standard will allow
manufac-turers to ensure that cardiac pacemakers and defibrillators are safe from wireless phone EMI. FDA has
tested hearing aids for interference from handheld wireless phones and helped develop a voluntary standard
sponsored by the Institute of Electrical and Electronic Engineers (IEEE). This standard specifies test methods
and performance requirements for hearing aids and wireless phones so that that no interference occurs when a
person uses a “compatible” phone and a “compatible” hearing aid at the same time. This standard was approved
by the IEEE in 2000. FDA continues to monitor the use of wireless phones for possible interactions with other
medical devices. Should harmful interference be found to occur, FDA will conduct testing to assess the interfer-
ence and work to resolve the problem.
12. Where can I find additional information?
For additional information, please refer to the following resources:
•
FDA web page on wireless phones (
http://www.fda.gov/cellphones
)
•
Federal Communications Commission (FCC) RF Safety Program (
http://www.fcc.gov/oet/rfsafety
)
•
International Commission on Non-Ionizing Radiation Protection (
http://www.icnirp.de
)
