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 do
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 lower exposure to radiofrequency
energy (RF), the measures described
above would apply to children and
teenagers using wireless phones.
Reducing the time of wireless
phone use and increasing the
distance between the user and the
RF source will reduce RF exposure.
Some groups sponsored by other
national governments have advised
that children be discouraged from
using wireless phones at all. For
example, the government in the
United Kingdom distributed leaflets
containing such a recommendation in
December 2000. They noted that no
evidence exists that using a wireless
phone causes brain tumors or other
ill effects. Their recommendation to
limit wireless phone use by children
was strictly precautionary; it was not
based on scientific evidence that any
health hazard exists.
11. What about wireless phone
interference with medical
equipment?
Radio frequency energy (RF) from
wireless phones can interact with
some electronic devices. For this
reason, the FDA helped develop a
detailed test method to measure
electromagnetic interference (EMI)
of implanted cardiac pacemakers
and defibrillators from wireless
telephones. This test method is now
part of a standard sponsored by the
Association for the Advancement of
Medical instrumentation (AAMI). The
final draft, a joint effort by the FDA,
medical device manufacturers, and
many other groups, was completed
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