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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.
3. What is FDA’s role concerning the safety of
wireless phones?
Under the law, FDA does not review the safety of
radiation emitting consumer products such as
wireless phones before they can be sold, as it does
with new drugs or medical devices. However, the
agency has authority to take action if wireless
phones are shown to emit radio frequency energy
(RF) at a level that is hazardous to the user. In
such a case, FDA could require the manufacturers
of wireless phones to notify users of the health
hazard and to repair, replace or recall the phones
so that the hazard no longer exists.
Although the existing scientific data do not justify
FDA regulatory actions, FDA has urged the
wireless phone industry to take a number of steps,
including the following:
l Support needed research into possible
biological effects of RF of the type emitted by
wireless phones;
l Design wireless phones in a way that minimizes
any RF exposure to the user that is not
necessary for device function; and
l Cooperate in providing users of wireless phones
with the best possible information on possible
effects of wireless phone use on human health
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FDA belongs to an interagency working group of
the federal agencies that have responsibility for
different aspects of RF safety to ensure
coordinated efforts at the federal level. The
following agencies belong to this working group:
l National Institute for Occupational Safety and
Health
l Environmental Protection Agency Federal
Communications Commission
l Occupational Safety and Health Administration
l National Telecommunications and Information
Administration
l The National Institutes of Health participates in
some interagency working group activities, as
well.
FDA shares regulatory responsibilities for wireless
phones with the Federal Communications
Commission (FCC). All phones that are sold in the
United States must comply with FCC safety
guidelines that limit RF exposure. FCC relies on
FDA and other health agencies for safety
questions about wireless phones.
FCC also regulates the base stations that the
wireless phone networks rely upon. While these
base stations operate at higher power than do the
wireless phones themselves, the RF exposures
that people get from these base stations are
typically thousands of times lower than those they
can get from wireless phones. Base stations are
thus not the primary subject of the safety
questions discussed in this document.
4. What is FDA doing to find out more about the
possible health effects of wireless phone RF?
FDA is working with the U.S. National Toxicology
Program and with groups of investigators around
the world to ensure that high priority animal
