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RADIOLOGICAL
HEALTH CONSUMER UPDATE ON WIRELESS PHONES
1. Do wireless phones pose a health hazard?
The available scientific evidence does not show that any health problems are associated with using wireless
phones. There is no proof, however, that wireless phones are absolutely safe. Wireless phones emit low levels of
radiofrequency energy (RF) in the microwave range while being used. They also emit very low levels of RF when in
the idle mode. Whereas high levels of RF can produce health effects (by heating tissue), exposure to low level RF that
does not produce heating effects causes no known adverse health effects. Many studies of low level RF exposures have
not found any biological effects. Some studies have suggested that some biological effects may occur, but such findings
have not been confirmed by additional research. In some cases, other researchers have had difficulty in reproducing
those studies, or in determining the reasons for inconsistent results.
2. What is FDA’s role concerning the safety of wireless phones?
Under the law, FDA does not review the safety of radiation-emitting consumer products such as wireless phones
before they can be sold, as it does with new drugs or medical devices. However, the agency has authority to take
action if wireless phones are shown to emit radiofrequency energy (RF) at a level that is hazardous to the user. In
such a case, FDA could require the manufacturers
of wireless phones to notify users of the health hazard and to repair, replace or recall the phones so that the hazard
no longer exists. Although the existing scientific data do not justify FDA regulatory actions, FDA has urged the wireless
phone industry to take a number of steps, including the following:
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phone use on human health.
FDA belongs to an interagency working group of the federal agencies that have responsibility for different aspects of
RF safety to ensure coordinated efforts at the federal level. The following agencies
belong to this working group:
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The National Institutes of Health participates in some inter-agency working group activities, as well. FDA shares
regulatory responsibilities for wireless phones with the Federal Communications Commission (FCC). All phones that
are sold in the United States must comply with FCC safety guidelines that limit RF exposure. FCC relies on FDA
and other health agencies for safety questions about wireless phones. FCC also regulates the base stations that the
wireless phone net works rely upon. While these base stations operate at higher power than do the wireless phones
themselves, the RF exposures that people get from these base stations are typically thousands of times lower than
