back of the phone. Any belt-clips, holsters, and similar accessories containing metallic components may not
be used. Body-worn accessories that cannot maintain 0.39 inches (1.0 cm) distance between the user’s body
and the back of the phone and have not been tested for typical body-worn operations may not comply with
FCC/IC RF exposure limits and should be avoided.
Consumer Information About Radio Frequency Emissions
Your wireless phone, which contains a radio transmitter and receiver, emits radio frequency energy during
use. The following consumer information addresses commonly asked questions about the health effects of
wireless phones.
Are wireless phones safe?
Scientific research on the subject of wireless phones and radio frequency (“RF”) energy has been conducted
worldwide for many years, and continues. In the United States, the Food and Drug Administration (“FDA”)
and the Federal Communications Commission (“FCC”) set policies and procedures for wireless phones.
The FDA issued a website publication on health issues related to cell phone usage where it states, “The
scientific community at large … believes that the weight of scientific evidence does not show an association
between exposure to radiofrequency (RF) from cell phones and adverse health outcomes. Still the scientific
community does recommend conducting additional research to address gaps in knowledge. That research
is being conducted around the world and FDA continues to monitor developments in this field. You can
access the joint FDA/FCC website at http://www.fda.gov (under “c” in the subject index, select Cell Phones
> Research). You can also contact the FDA toll-free at (888) 463-6332 or (888) INFO-FDA. In June 2000,
the FDA entered into a cooperative research and development agreement through which additional scientific
research is being conducted. The FCC issued its own website publication stating that “there is no scientific
evidence that proves that wireless phone usage can lead to cancer or a variety of other problems, including
headaches, dizziness or memory loss.” This publication is available at http://www.fcc.gov/cgb/ cellular.html
or through the FCC at (888) 225-5322 or (888) CALL- FCC.
What does “SAR” mean?
In 1996, the FCC, working with the FDA, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, and other agencies,
established RF exposure safety guidelines for wireless phones in the United States. Before a wireless phone
model is available for sale to the public, it must be tested by the manufacturer and certified to the FCC that
it does not exceed limits established by the FCC. One of these limits is expressed as a Specific Absorption
Rate, or “SAR.” SAR is a measure of the rate of absorption of RF energy in the body. Tests for SAR are
conducted with the phone transmitting at its highest power level in all tested frequency bands. Since 1996,
the FCC has required that the SAR of handheld wireless phones not exceed 1.6 watts per kilogram, averaged
over one gram of tissue.
Although the SAR is determined at the highest power level, the actual SAR value of a wireless phone while
operating can be less than the reported SAR value. This is because the SAR value may vary from call to
call, depending on factors such as proximity to a cell site, the proximity of the phone to the body while
in use, and the use of hands-free devices. For more information about SARs, see the FCC’s OET Bulletins
56 and 65 at http://www.fcc.gov/Bureaus/ Engineering_Technology/Documents/bulletins or visit the Cellular
Telecommunications Industry Association website at http://www.ctia.org/consumer_info/index.cfm/
AID/10371. You may also wish to contact the manufacturer of your phone.
Can I minimize my RF exposure?
If you are concerned about RF, there are several simple steps you can take to minimize your RF exposure. You
can, of course, reduce your talk time. You can place more distance between your body and the source of the
RF, as the exposure level drops off dramatically with distance. The FDA/FCC website states that “hands-free
kits can be used with wireless phones for convenience and comfort. These systems reduce the absorption of
RF energy in the head because the phone, which is the source of the RF emissions, will not be placed against
the head. On the other hand, if the phone is mounted against the waist or other part of the body during use,
then that part of the body will absorb more RF energy. Wireless phones marketed in the U.S. are required to
meet safety requirements regardless of whether they are used against the head or against the body. Either
configuration should result in compliance with the safety limit.” Also, if you use your wireless phone while in
a car, you can use a phone with an antenna on the outside of the vehicle. You should also read and follow your
wireless phone manufacturer’s instructions for the safe operation of your phone.
Do wireless phones pose any special risks to children?
The FDA/FCC website states that “the scientific evidence does not show a danger to users of wireless
communication devices, including children.” The FDA/FCC website further states that “some groups sponsored
by other national governments have advised that children be discouraged from using wireless phones at all”.
For example, the Stewart Report from the United Kingdom [“UK”] made such a recommendation in December
2000. In this report a group of independent experts noted that no evidence exists that using a cell phone
causes brain tumors or other ill effects. [The UK’s] recommendation to limit cell phone use by children was
strictly precautionary; it was not based on scientific evidence that any health hazard exists. A copy of the UK’s
leaflet is available at http://www.dh.gov.uk (search “mobile”), or you can write to: NRPB, Chilton, Didcot,
Oxon OX11 ORQ, United Kingdom. Copies of the UK’s annual reports on mobile phones and RF are available
online at www.iegmp.org.uk and http://www.hpa. org.uk/radiation/ (search “mobile”). Parents who wish to
reduce their children’s RF exposure may choose to restrict their children’s wireless phone use.
Where can I get further information about RF emissions?
For further information, see the following additional resources (websites current as of April 2005):
U.S. Food and Drug Administration
FDA Consumer magazine
November-December 2000
Telephone: (888) INFO-FDA
http://www.fda.gov (Under “c” in the subject index, select Cell Phones > Research.)
U.S. Federal Communications Commission
445 12th Street, S.W.
Washington, D.C. 20554
Telephone: (888) 225-5322
http://www.fcc.gov/oet/rfsafety
Independent Expert Group on Mobile Phones
http://www.iegmp.org.uk
Royal Society of Canada Expert Panels on Potential Health Risks of Radio Frequency Fields from Wireless
Telecommunication Devices
283 Sparks Street
Ottawa, Ontario K1R 7X9 Canada
Telephone: (613) 991-6990
http://www.rsc.ca/index.php?page=Expert_Panels_RF&Lang_id=120
