User's Manual

used animals that had been genetically engineered

or treated with cancer-causing chemicals so as to be

pre-disposed to develop cancer in the absence of RF

exposure. Other studies exposed the animals to RF

for up to 22 hours per day. These conditions are not

similar to the conditions under which people use

wireless phones, so it is largely unknown what the

results of such studies mean for human health and

safety. Three large epidemiology studies have been

published since December 2000. These studies

investigated possible associations between the use

of wireless phones and primary 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”, “mobile”, or “PCS” 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.