227
Safety
Radiation Protection and Measurement. The exposure limit
takes into consideration the body’s ability to remove heat from
the tissues that absorb energy from the wireless phone and
is set well below levels known to have effects. Manufacturers
of wireless phones must report the RF exposure level for
each model of phone to the FCC. The FCC website (http://
www.fcc.gov/oet/rfsafety) gives directions for locating the
FCC identification number on your phone so you can find your
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 (RF) energy 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 tissue-simulating 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.