User's Manual

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.
Do wireless phone accessories that claim to shield the head
from RF radiation work?
Since there are no known risks from exposure to RF emissions from
wireless phones, there is no reason to believe that accessories that
Safety
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claim to shield the head from those emissions reduce risks. Some
products that claim to shield the user from RF absorption use special
phone cases, while others involve nothing more than a metallic
accessory attached to the phone. Studies have shown that these
products generally do not work as advertised. Unlike “hand-free” kits,
these so-called “shields” may interfere with proper operation of the
phone. The phone may be forced to boost its power to compensate,
leading to an increase in RF absorption. In February 2002, the Federal
trade Commission (FTC) charged two companies that sold devices
that claimed to protect wireless phone users from radiation with
making false and unsubstantiated claims. According to FTC, these
defendants lacked a reasonable basis to substantiate their claim.
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 electromagnetic interference (EMI) of
implanted cardiac pacemakers and defibrillators from wireless
telephones. This test method is now part of a standard sponsored by
the Association for the Advancement of Medical instrumentation
(AAMI). The final 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 defibrillators are safe from wireless phone EMI.
FDA has tested hearing aids for interference from handheld wireless
phones and helped develop a voluntary standard sponsored by the