Safety
5.What research is needed to decide whether RF exposure from wireless phones poses a health risk?
A combination of laboratory studies and epidemiological studies of people actually using wireless phones would provide some of the data that are needed. Lifetime animal exposure studies could be completed in a few years. However, very large numbers
of animals would be needed to provide reliable proof of a cancer promoting effect if one exists. Epidemiological studies can provide data that is directly applicable to human populations, but ten or more years
—may be many, many years. The interpretation of epidemiological studies is hampered by difficulties in measuring actual RF exposure during
6.What is the FDA doing to find out more about the possible health effects of wireless phone RF?
The FDA is working with the U.S. National Toxicology Program and with groups of investigators around the world to ensure that high priority animal studies are conducted to address important questions about the effects of exposure to Radio Frequency (RF) energy.
The FDA has been a leading participant in the World Health Organization International Electro Magnetic Fields (EMF) Project since its inception in 1996. An influential result of this work has been the development of a detailed agenda of research needs that has driven the establishment of new research programs around the world. The project has also helped develop a series of public information documents on EMF issues.
The FDA and the Cellular Telecommunications & Internet Association (CTIA) have a formal Cooperative Research And Development Agreement (CRADA) to do research on wireless phone safety. The FDA provides the
