Nokia 3361 - Consumer Update on Wireless Phones

background image

Consumer Update on Wireless Phones

U.S. Food and Drug Administration

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 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.

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:

Support needed research into possible biological effects of RF of the type emitted by

wireless phones;

Design wireless phones in a way that minimizes any RF exposure to the user that is not

necessary for device function; and

Cooperate in providing users of wireless phones with the best possible information on

possible effects of wireless 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:

National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health

Environmental Protection Agency

Federal Communications Commission

Occupational Safety and Health Administration

National Telecommunications and Information Administration

The National Institutes of Health participates in some interagency 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

networks 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 those they can get from wireless phones. Base stations are thus

not the subject of the safety questions discussed in this document.

background image

[ 153 ]

Appendix B Message from the FDA

3. What kinds of phones are the subject of this update?

The term wireless phone refers here to hand-held wireless phones with built-in antennas, often

called cell mobile or PCS phones. These types of wireless phones can expose the user to

measurable radiofrequency energy (RF) because of the short distance between the phone and

the user’s head. These RF exposures are limited by Federal Communications Commission

safety guidelines that were developed with the advice of FDA and other federal health and

safety agencies. When the phone is located at greater distances from the user, the exposure to

RF is drastically lower because a person's RF exposure decreases rapidly with increasing

distance from the source. The so-called cordless phones; which have a base unit connected to

the telephone wiring in a house, typically operate at far lower power levels, and thus produce

RF exposures far below the FCC safety limits.

4. What are the results of the research done already?

The research done thus far has produced conflicting results, and many studies have suffered

from flaws in their research methods. Animal experiments investigating the effects of

radiofrequency energy (RF) exposures characteristic of wireless phones have yielded conflicting

results that often cannot be repeated in other laboratories. A few animal studies, however, have

suggested that low levels of RF could accelerate the development of cancer in laboratory

animals. However, many of the studies that showed increased tumor development used animals

that had been genetically engineered or treated with cancer-causing chemicals so as to be pre-

disposed to develop cancer in the absence of RF exposure. Other studies exposed the animals

to RF for up to 22 hours per day. These conditions are not similar to the conditions under which

people use wireless phones, so we don’t know with certainty what the results of such studies

mean for human health.
Three large epidemiology studies have been published since December 2000. Between them, the

studies investigated any possible association between the use of wireless phones and primary

brain cancer, glioma, meningioma, or acoustic neuroma, tumors of the brain or salivary gland,

leukemia, or other cancers. None of the studies demonstrated the existence of any harmful

health effects from wireless phone RF exposures. However, none of the studies can answer

questions about long-term exposures, since the average period of phone use in these studies was

around three years.

5.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 data that are needed. 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 10 or more years

follow-up may be needed to provide answers about some health effects, such as cancer. This is

because the interval between the time of exposure to a cancer-causing agent and the time

tumors develop - if they do - may be many, many years. 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.

6. What is FDA doing to find out more about the possible health effects

of wireless phone RF?

FDA is working with the U.S. National Toxicology Program and with groups of investigators

around the world to ensure that high priority animal studies are conducted to address

important questions about the effects of exposure to radiofrequency energy (RF).

background image

[ 154 ]

FDA has been a leading participant in the World Health Organization International

Electromagnetic Fields (EMF) Project since its inception in 1996. An influential result of this

work has been the development of a detailed agenda of research needs that has driven the

establishment of new research programs around the world. The Project has also helped develop

a series of public information documents on EMF issues.
FDA and the Cellular Telecommunications

&

Internet Association (CTIA) have a formal

Cooperative Research and Development Agreement (CRADA) to do research on wireless

phone safety. FDA provides the scientific oversight, obtaining input from experts in

government, industry, and academic organizations. CTIA-funded research is conducted

through contracts to 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.

7. How can I find out how much radiofrequency energy exposure I can

get by using my wireless phone?

All phones sold in the United States must comply with Federal Communications Commission

(FCC) guidelines that limit radiofrequency energy (RF) exposures. FCC established these

guidelines in consultation with FDA and the other federal health and safety agencies. The FCC

limit for RF exposure from wireless telephones is set at a Specific Absorption Rate (SAR) of 1.6

watts per kilogram (1.6 W/kg). The FCC limit is consistent with the safety standards developed

by the Institute of Electrical and Electronic Engineering (IEEE) and the National Council on

Radiation Protection and Measurement. The exposure limit takes into consideration the body’s

ability to remove heat from the tissues that absorb energy from the wireless phone and is set

well below levels known to have effects.
Manufacturers of wireless phones must report the RF exposure level for each model of phone

to the FCC. The FCC website (http://www.fcc.gov/oet/rfsafety) gives directions for locating the

FCC identification number on your phone so you can find your phone’s RF exposure level in

the online listing.

8. What has FDA done to measure the radiofrequency energy coming

from wireless phones?

The Institute of Electrical and Electronic Engineers (IEEE) is developing a technical standard

for measuring the radiofrequency energy (RF) 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 radiofrequency

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 radiofrequency energy (RF). 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.

background image

[ 155 ]

Appendix B Message from the FDA

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 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?

Radiofrequency energy (RF) from wireless phones can interact with some electronic devices.

For this reason, 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 FDA,

medical device manufacturers, and many other groups, was completed in late 2000. This

standard will allow manufacturers to ensure that cardiac pacemakers and defibrillators are safe

from wireless phone EMI. FDA has tested hearing aids for interference from handheld wireless

phones and helped develop a voluntary standard sponsored by the Institute of Electrical and

Electronic Engineers (IEEE). This standard specifies test methods and performance

requirements for hearing aids and wireless phones so that no interference occurs when a person

uses a compatible phone and a accompanied hearing aid at the same time. This standard was

approved by the IEEE in 2000.
FDA continues to monitor the use of wireless phones for possible interactions with other

medical devices. Should harmful interference be found to occur, FDA will conduct testing to

assess the interference and work to resolve the problem.

12. Where can I find additional information?

For additional information, please refer to the following resources:

FDA web page on wireless phones

http://www.fda.gov/cdrh/phones/index.html

Federal Communications Commission (FCC) RF Safety Program

http://www.fcc.gov/oet/rfsafety

International Commission on Non-Ionizing Radiation Protection

http://www.icnirp.de

World Health Organization (WHO) International EMF Project

http://www.who.int/emf

National Radiological Protection Board (UK)

http://www.nrpb.org.uk/

July 18, 2001For updates: http://www.fda.gov/cdrh/phones

background image

[ 156 ]