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FDA and Cellular Telecommunications & Internet Association
(CTIA) have a formal Cooperative Research and Development
Agreement (CRADA) to do research on wireless phone safety.
FDA provides the scientific oversight, obtaining input from
experts in government, industry, and academic organizations.
CTIA-funded research is conducted through contracts to
independent investigators. The initial research will include both
laboratory studies and studies of wireless phone users. The
CRADA will also include a broad assessment of additional
research needs in the context of the latest research
developments around the world.
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 simple steps to minimize your exposure to radio frequency
energy (RF). Since time is a key factor in how much exposure a
person receives, reducing the amount of time spent using a
wireless phone will reduce RF exposure.
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If you must conduct extended conversations by wireless phone every
day, you could place more distance between your body and the source
of the RF, since the exposure level drops off dramatically with distance.
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.
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 radio frequency 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
