LG Electronics manual TD5130eng 1/12/06 557 PM

*TD5130_eng 1/12/06 5:57 PM Page 82

LG-TD5130

or salivary gland, leukemia, or other cancers. None of the studies demonstrated the existence of any harmful health effects from wireless phone RF exposures. However, none of the studies can answer questions about long-term exposures, since the average period of phone use in these studies was around three years.

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 ani- mal exposure studies could be completed in a few years. However, very large numbers of animals would be need- ed 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 10 or more years follow-up may be needed to provide answers about some health effects, such as cancer.This is because the interval between the time of exposure to a cancer-causing agent and the time tumors develop — if they do — may be many, many years. The interpreta- tion of epidemiological studies is hampered by difficul- ties in measuring actual RF exposure during day-to-day use of wireless phones. Many factors affect this meas- urement, such as the angle at which the phone is held, or which model of phone is used.

6.What is FDA doing to find out more about the pos- sible health effects of wireless phone RF?

FDA is working with the U.S. National Toxicology Program and with groups of investigators around the

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