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Section 4A: Safety 157
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.
FDA and the Cellular Telecommunications & Internet Association (CTIA) have a
formal Cooperative Research and Development Agreement (CRADA) to do research
on wireless phone safety. FDA provides the scientific oversight, obtaining input from
experts in government, industry, and academic organizations. CTIA-funded research
is conducted through contracts to independent investigators. The initial research
will include both laboratory studies and studies of wireless phone users. The CRADA
will also include a broad assessment of additional research needs in the context of
the latest research developments around the world.
What steps can I take to reduce my exposure to radiofrequency energy from
my wireless phone?
If there is a risk from these products--and at this point we do not know thatthere is--
it is probably very small. But if you are concerned about avoiding even potential risks,
you can take a few simple steps to minimize your exposure to radiofrequency energy
(RF). Since time is a key factor in how much exposure a person receives, reducing the
amount of time spent using a wireless phone will reduce RF exposure.
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If you must conduct extended conversations by wireless phone every day, you
could 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 do 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.
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
radiofrequency energy (RF), 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.
What about wireless phone interference with medical equipment?
Radiofrequency energy (RF) from wireless phones can interact with some electronic
devices. For this reason, FDA helped develop a detailed test method to measure