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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 does not demonstrate that wireless phones
are harmful. But if you are concerned about the RF exposure from these products, you
can use measures like those described above to reduce your RF exposure from wireless
phone use.
10. What about children using wireless phones?
The scientific evidence does not show a danger to users of wireless phones, including
children and teenagers. If you want to take steps to lower exposure to Radio Frequency
(RF) energy, the measures described above would apply to children and teenagers using
wireless phones. Reducing the time of wireless phone use and increasing the distance
between the user and the RF source will reduce RF exposure.
Some groups sponsored by other national governments have advised that children be
discouraged from using wireless phones at all. For example, the government in the
United Kingdom distributed leaflets containing such a recommendation in December
2000. They noted that no evidence exists that using a wireless phone causes brain
tumors or other ill effects. Their recommendation to limit wireless phone use by children
was strictly precautionary; it was not based on scientific evidence that any health
hazard exists.
11. What about wireless phone interference with medical equipment?
Radio Frequency (RF) energy from wireless phones can interact with some electronic
devices. For this reason, the FDA helped develop a detailed test method to measure
Electro Magnetic Interference (EMI) of implanted cardiac pacemakers and defibrillators
from wireless telephones. This test method is now part of a standard sponsored by the
Association for the Advancement of Medical Instrumentation (AAMI). The final draft, a
joint effort by the FDA, medical device manufacturers, and many other groups, was
completed in late 2000. This standard will allow manufacturers to ensure that cardiac
pacemakers and defibrillators are safe from wireless phone EMI.
For Your Safety