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6. 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
was not based on scientific evidence that any health hazard
exists.
7. Do hands-free kits for wireless phones reduce risks from
exposure to RF emissions?
Since there are no known risks from exposure to RF emissions
from wireless phones, there is no reason to believe that
hands-free kits reduce risks. 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.
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8. Do wireless phone accessories that claim to shield the
head from RF radiation work?
Since there are no known risks from exposure to RF emissions
from wireless phones, there is no reason to believe that
accessories that claim to shield the head from those
emissions reduce risks. Some products that claim to shield
the user from RF absorption use special phone cases, while
others involve nothing more than a metallic accessory
attached to the phone. Studies have shown that these
products generally do not work as advertised. Unlike “hand-
free” kits, these so-called “shields” may interfere with proper
operation of the phone. The phone may be forced to boost its
power to compensate, leading to an increase in RF
absorption. In February 2002, the Federal trade Commission
(FTC) charged two companies that sold devices that claimed
to protect wireless phone users from radiation with making
false and unsubstantiated claims. According to FTC, these
defendants lacked a reasonable basis to substantiate their
claim.
9. What about wireless phone interference with medical
equipment?
Radio frequency energy (RF) from wireless phones can
interact with some electronic devices. For this reason, FDA
helped develop a detailed test method to measure
electromagnetic interference (EMI) of implanted cardiac
pacemakers and defibrillators from wireless telephones. This
test method is now part of a standard sponsored by the
Association for the Advancement of Medical instrumentation
(AAMI). The final draft, a joint effort by FDA, medical device
manufacturers, and many other groups, was completed in
late 2000. This standard will allow manufacturers to ensure
that cardiac pacemakers and defibrillators are safe from
wireless phone EMI.
