5
H
ealth
and
safet
y in
format
ion
and safety agencies. When the phone is
located at greater distances from the user,
the exposure to RF is drastically lower
because a person's RF exposure
decreases rapidly with increasing distance
from the source. The so-called “cordless
phones,” which have a base unit connected
to the telephone wiring in a house, typically
operate at far lower power levels, and thus
produce RF exposures well within the FCC's
compliance limits.
Do wireless phones pose a
health hazard?
The available scientific evidence does not
show that any health problems are
associated with using wireless phones.
There is no proof, however, that wireless
phones are absolutely safe. Wireless
phones emit low levels of radio frequency
energy (RF) in the microwave range while
being used. They also emit very low levels of
RF when in the stand-by mode. Whereas
high levels of RF can produce health effects
(by heating tissue), exposure to low level RF
that does not produce heating effects
causes no known adverse health effects.
Many studies of low level RF exposures
have not found any biological effects. Some
studies have suggested that some
biological effects may occur, but such
findings have not been confirmed by
additional research. In some cases, other
researchers have had difficulty in
reproducing those studies, or in determining
the reasons for inconsistent results.