102
Safety Guidelines
phone’s RF exposure level in the online
listing.
8. What has the FDA done to measure the
radio frequency energy coming from
wireless phones?
The Institute of Electrical and Electronic
Engineers (IEEE) is developing a technical
standard for measuring the radio frequency
energy (RF) exposure from wireless
phones and other wireless handsets with
the participation and leadership of FDA
scientists and engineers. The standard,
‘Recommended Practice for Determining
the Spatial- Peak Specific Absorption Rate
(SAR) in the Human Body Due to Wireless
Communications Devices: Experimental
Techniques,’ sets forth the first consistent
test methodology for measuring the rate
at which RF is deposited in the heads of
wireless phone users. The test method uses
a tissuesimulating model of the human
head. Standardized SAR test methodology is
expected to greatly improve the consistency
of measurements made at different
laboratories on the same phone. SAR is
the measurement of the amount of energy
absorbed in tissue, either by the whole body
or a small part of the body. It is measured
in watts/kg (or milliwatts/g) of matter. This
measurement is used to determine whether
a wireless phone complies with safety
guidelines.
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