User's Manual

72
Safety Guidelines
8. What has the FDA done to measure the radio
frequency energy coming from wireless
phones?
The Institute of Electrical and Electronic Engineers
(IEEE) is developing a technical standard for
measuring the radio frequency 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 tissuesimulating 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. 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