40
9. What steps can I take to reduce my exposure to radiofrequency 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 radiofrequency 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.
. 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.
10. 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 radiofrequency 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.
11. What about wireless phone interference with medical equipment?
Radiofrequency 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.
FDA has tested hearing aids for interference from handheld wireless phones and helped develop a
voluntary standard sponsored by the Institute of Electrical and Electronic Engineers (IEEE). This
standard specifies test methods and performance requirements for hearing aids and wireless phones
so that that no interference occurs when a person uses a “compatible” phone and a “compatible”
hearing aid at the same time. This standard was approved by the IEEE in 2000.
FDA continues to monitor the use of wireless phones for possible interactions with other medical
devices. Should harmful interference be found to occur, FDA will conduct testing to assess the
interference and work to resolve the problem.
12. Where can I find additional information?
For additional information, please refer to the following resources:
. FDA web page on wireless phones (
http://www.fda.gov/cdrh/phones/index.html
)
