222 Safety
causes no known adverse health effects. Many studies of
low level RF exposures have not found any biological effects.
Some studies 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
radiationemitting 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:
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of the type emitted by wireless phones;
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exposure to the user that is not necessary for device function;
and
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best possible information on possible effects of wireless
phone use on human health.
The FDA belongs to an interagency working group of the