SAFETY

FDA Consumer Update

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration’s Center for Devices and Radiological Health Consumer Update on Mobile 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 Radio Frequency (RF) energy in the

 

microwave range while being used. They also emit

 

very low levels of RF when in standby mode. Whereas

 

high levels of RF can produce health effects (by

 

heating tissue), exposure to low level RF that does

 

 

not produce heating effects causes no known adverse

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AF

health effects. Many studies of low level RF exposures

ET

have not found any biological effects. Some studies

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have suggested that some biological effects may

 

 

occur, but such findings have not been confirmed by

 

additional research. In some cases, other researchers

 

have had difficulty in reproducing those studies, or in

 

determining the reasons for inconsistent results.

2.What is the FDA's role concerning the safety of wireless phones?

Under the law, the FDA does not review the safety of radiation-emitting consumer products such as wireless phones before they can be sold, as it does with new drugs or medical devices. However, the agency has authority to take action if wireless phones are shown to emit Radio Frequency (RF) energy at a level that is hazardous to the user. In such a case, the FDA could require the manufacturers of wireless phones to notify users of the health hazard and to repair, replace, or recall the phones so that the hazard no longer exists.

Although the existing scientific data do not justify FDA regulatory actions, the FDA has urged the wireless phone industry to take a number of steps, including the following:

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

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LG Electronics AX490 manual FDA Consumer Update, Any health problems are associated with using