FDA Consumer
Information on Wireless
Phones
The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) provides consumer
information on wireless phones at:
http://www.fda.gov/cellphones/qa.html
Following are safety-related questions and answers discussed at this web
site.
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 radio frequency energy (RF) in the microwave range while being used.
They also emit very low levels of RF when in the stand-by 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.
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 radio
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