For Your Safety
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exposure from wireless phones and other wireless handsets with
the participation and leadership of FDA scientists and engineers. The
standard, “Recommended Practice for Determining the Spatial-Peak
Specific Absorption Rate (SAR) in the Human Body Due to Wireless
Communications Devices: Experimental Techniques”, sets forth the
first consistent test methodology for measuring the rate at which RF
is deposited in the heads of wireless phone users. The test method
uses a tissue-simulating model of the human head. Standardized SAR
test methodology is expected to greatly improve the consistency of
measurements made at different laboratories on the same phone. SAR is
the measurement of the amount of energy absorbed in tissue, either by
the whole body or a small part of the body. It is measured in watts/kg (or
milliwatts/g) of matter. This measurement is used to determine whether a
wireless phone complies with safety guidelines.
9. What steps can I take to reduce my exposure to Radio Frequency
energy from my wireless phone?
If there is a risk from these products — and at this point we do not
know that there is — it is probably very small. But if you are concerned
about avoiding even potential risks, you can take a few simple steps to
minimize your exposure to Radio Frequency (RF) energy. Since time is a
key factor in how much exposure a person receives, reducing the amount
of time spent using a wireless phone will reduce RF exposure. If you must
conduct extended conversations by wireless phone every day, you could
place more distance between your body and the source of the RF, since
the exposure level drops off dramatically with distance. For example, you
could use a headset and carry the wireless phone away from your body or
use a wireless phone connected to a remote antenna. Again, the scientific
data does not demonstrate that wireless phones are harmful. But if you
are concerned about the RF exposure from these products, you can use
measures like those described above to reduce your RF exposure from
wireless phone use.
10. What about children using wireless phones?
The scientific evidence does not show a danger to users of wireless
phones, including children and teenagers. If you want to take steps to
