SAFETY AND WARRANTY FDA CONSUMER UPDATE
U.S. Food and Drug Administration -
Center for Devices and Radiological Health
Consumer Update on Wireless Phones
1. Do wireless phones pose a health hazard?
The available scientific evidence does not show that any health problems are associated with using wireless phones. There is no proof, however, that wireless phones are absolutely safe. Wireless phones emit low levels of radiofrequency energy (RF) in the microwave range while being used. They also emit very low levels of RF when in the
2.What is FDA’s role concerning the safety of wireless phones? Under the law, FDA does not review the safety of
•Support needed research into possible biological effects of RF of the type emitted by wireless phones;
•Design wireless phones in a way that minimizes any RF exposure to the user that is not necessary for device function;
and
•Cooperate in providing users of wireless phones with the best possible information on possible effects of wireless phone use on human health.
FDA CONSUMER UPDATE | SAFETY AND WARRANTY |
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:
•National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health
•Environmental Protection Agency
•Federal Communications Commission
•Occupational Safety and Health Administration
•National Telecommunications and Information Administration
The National Institutes of Health participates in some
3. What kinds of phones are the subject of this update?
The term “wireless phone” refers here to
These types of wireless phones can expose the user to measurable radiofrequency energy (RF) because of the short distance between the phone and the user’s head. These RF exposures are limited by Federal Communications Commission safety guidelines that were developed with the advice of FDA and other federal health and safety agencies. When the phone is located at greater distances from the user, the exposure to RF is drastically lower because a person’s RF exposure decreases rapidly with increasing distance from the source. The
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