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FDA Consumer Update
The U.S. Food and Drug
Administration Centre for Devices and
Radiological Health Consumer Update
on Mobile Phones.
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 standby 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 the FDA's role
concerning the safety of
wireless phones?
Under the law, the 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, the 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, the FDA has urged the
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