User's Manual

appropriately matched people without brain cancer. This is called
a case - control study. The current case - control study of brain
cancers by the National Cancer Institute, as well as the follow
-
up research to be sponsored by industry, will begin to generate
this type of information.
What is FDA's role concerning the safety of mobile
phones?
Under the law, FDA does not review the safety of radiation - emit -
ting consumer products such as mobile phones before market -
ing, as it does with new drugs or medical devices. However, the
agency has authority to take action
if mobile phones are shown
to emit radiation
at a level that is hazardous to the user. In such
a case, FDA could require the manufacturers of mobile 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 regula -
tory actions at this time, FDA has urged the mobile phone indus -
try to take a number of steps to assure public safety. The
agency has recommended that the industry:
support needed research into possible biological effects of
RF of the type emitted by mobile phones;
design mobile phones in
a way that minimizes any RF
exposure to the user that is not necessary for device func -
tion ; and
cooperate in providing mobile phone users with the best
possible information on what
is known about possible
effects of mobile phone use on human health.
At the same time, FDA belongs to an interagency working group
of the federal agencies that have responsibility for different
aspects of mobile phone safety to ensure
a coordinated effort at
the federal level. These agencies are:
Environmental Protection Agency
Federal Communications Commission
National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health
Occupational Health and Safety Administration