Nokia 6590 - Consumer Update on Wireless Phones

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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.

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

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Appendix B Message from the FDA

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).
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.

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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.
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.

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Appendix B Message from the FDA

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

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