User's Manual
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 peo-
ple actually using wireless phones
would provide some of the data
that are needed. Lifetime animal
exposure studies could be complet-
ed 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 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 difculties in mea-
suring actual RF exposure during
day-to-day use of wireless phones.
Many factors affect this measure-