Section 16: Health and Safety Information 189
Consumer Information on Wireless Phones
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.
Do hands-free kits for wireless phones reduce risks from
exposure to RF emissions?
Since there are no known risks from exposure to RF
emissions from wireless phones, there is no reason to
believe that hands-free kits reduce risks. Hands-free
kits can be used with wireless phones for convenience
and comfort. These systems reduce the absorption of
RF energy in the head because the phone, which is the
source of the RF emissions, will not be placed against
the head. On the other hand, if the phone is mounted
against the waist or other part of the body during use,
then that part of the body will absorb more RF energy.
Wireless phones marketed in the U.S. are required to
meet safety requirements regardless of whether they
are used against the head or against the body. Either
configuration should result in compliance with the
safety limit.