User manual

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brain cancer (glioma, meningioma, acoustic neuroma, other brain tumors, and salivary
gland tumors), leukemia, or other types of cancer. None of the studies demonstrated the
existence of any harmful health effects from wireless phone RF exposures. However, none
of the studies can provide absolute findings about long-term exposures since the average
period of phone use in these studies was approximately three years.
4. What kinds of phones are the subjects of this update?
Here the term “wireless phone” refers to handheld wireless phones with built-in antennas,
often called “cell” or “mobile” phones. These types of wireless phones can expose the user
to measurable Radio Frequency (RF) energy because of the short distance between the
phone and the user’s head. These RF exposures are limited by FCC safety guidelines that
were developed with the advice of the FDA and other federal health and safety agencies.
When the phone is located at greater distances from the user, the exposure to RF is
drastically reduced due to a person's RF exposure rapidly decreasing with increasing
distance from the source.
The so-called “cordless phones,” which have a base unit connected to the telephone wiring
in a house, typically operate at far lower power levels, thus producing RF exposures far
below the FCC safety limits.
5. What is the FDA doing to find out more about the possible health effects of wireless
phone RF?
The FDA is working with the U.S. National Toxicology Program and with groups of
investigators around the world to ensure that high-priority animal studies are conducted to
address concerns about the effects of exposure to Radio Frequency (RF) energy.
The FDA has been a leading participant in the World Health Organization International
Electro Magnetic Fields (EMF) Project since its inception in 1996. An influential result of
this work has been the development of a detailed agenda of research needs that has