User's Manual

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Telecommunications & Internet Association (CTIA) have a formal
Cooperative Research and Development Agreement (CRADA) to
conduct research on wireless phone safety. The FDA provides
the scientific oversight, obtaining input from experts in
government, industry, and academic organizations. CTIA-funded
research is conducted through contracts with independent
investigators. The initial research will include both laboratory
studies and studies of wireless phone users. The CRADA will
also include a broad assessment of additional research needs in
the context of the latest research developments around the world.
6. What research is needed to decide whether RF exposure
from wireless phones poses a health risk?
A combination of laboratory studies and epidemiological studies
of people actually using wireless phones would provide some of
the vital data. Lifetime animal exposure studies could be
completed in a few years. However, very large numbers of
animals would be needed to provide reliable proof of a
cancer-promoting effect, if one exists. Epidemiological studies
can provide data that is directly applicable to human populations,
but ten or more years of follow-up research may be needed to
provide answers about certain health effects, such as cancer.
This is due to the interval between exposure time to a
cancer-causing agent and the rate for which tumors develop - if
they do. This could take several years into the future. The
interpretation of epidemiological studies is hampered by
difficulties in measuring actual RF exposure during day-to-day
use of wireless phones. Many factors affect this measurement,
such as the angle at which the phone is held, or which model of
phone is used.
7. What has the FDA done to measure the Radio Frequency
energy coming from wireless phones?
The Institute of Electrical and Electronic Engineers (IEEE) is
developing a technical standard for measuring the Radio
Frequency (RF) energy exposure from wireless phones and other
wireless handsets with the participation and leadership of FDA