User's Manual

■ 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
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 “hands-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