Instruction Manual

HealthandSafetyInformation
HealthandSafetyInformation
HealthandSafetyInformation145
144HealthandSafetyInformation
(FTC) charged two companies that sold devices that claimed to protect wireless phone users
from radiation with making false and unsubstantiated claims. According to the FTC, these
defendants lacked a reasonable basis to substantiate their claim.
What about wireless phone interference with medical equipment?
Radio frequency energy (RF) from wireless phones can interact with some electronic
devices. For this reason, The FDA helped develop a detailed test method to measure
electromagneticinterference(EMI)ofimplantedcardiacpacemakersanddebrillators
from wireless telephones. This test method is now part of a standard sponsored by
theAssociationfortheAdvancementofMedicalInstrumentation(AAMI).Thenal
draft, a joint effort by FDA, medical device manufacturers and many other groups, was
completed in late 2000. This standard will allow manufacturers to ensure that cardiac
pacemakersanddebrillatorsaresafefromwirelessphoneEMI.TheFDAhastested
wireless phones and helped develop a voluntary standard sponsored by the Institute
ofElectricalandElectronicEngineers(IEEE).Thisstandardspeciestestmethodsand
performance requirements for hearing aids and wireless phones so that no interference
occurs when a person uses a compatible phone and a compatible hearing aid at the
same time. This standard was approved by the IEEE in 2000.
The FDA continues to monitor the use of wireless phones for possible interactions with
othermedicaldevices.Shouldharmfulinterferencebefoundtooccur,TheFDAwill
conduct testing to assess the interference and work to resolve the problem.
Additional information on the safety of RF exposures from various sources can be
obtainedfromthefollowingorganizations(Updated12/1/2006):
• FCCRFSafetyProgram:www.fcc.gov/oet/rfsafety
• EnvironmentalProtectionAgency(EPA):www.epa.gov/radiation
• OccupationalSafetyandHealthAdministration’s(OSHA):
www.osha.gov/SLTC/radiofrequencyradiation
• NationalInstituteforOccupationalSafetyandHealth(NIOSH):
www.cdc.gov/niosh
• WorldHealthOrganization(WHO):www.who.int
• InternationalCommissiononNon–IonizingRadiationProtection:www.icnirp.de
• NationalRadiationProtectionBoard(UK): www.hpa.org.uk/radiation
• USFoodandDrugAdministration:www.fda.gov
1008301_GreatCall_jB_HowToGuide_R11.indd 144-145 3/9/2011 10:23:40 AM