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health. Three large epidemiology studies have
been published since December 2000. Between
them, the studies investigated any possible
association between the use of wireless phones
and primary brain cancer, glioma, meningioma, or
acoustic neuroma, tumors of the brain or salivary
gland, leukemia, or other cancers. None of the
studies demonstrated the existence of any harmful
health effects from wireless phone RF exposures.
However, none of the studies can answer
questions about long-term exposures, since the
average period of phone use in these studies was
around three years.
5. 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.
6. What is the FDA doing to find out more about
the possible health effects of wireless phone RF?
The 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 (RF) energy.
