Safety
G’zOne TYPE-S
159
G’zOne TYPE-S
158
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.
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.
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.
