User's Manual

102
For Your Safety
8. What has the FDA done to measure the Radio
Frequency energy coming from tablets?
The Institute of Electrical and Electronic Engineers (IEEE) is developing a technical
standard for measuring the Radio Frequency (RF) energy exposure from tablets 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 and bodies of tablet
users. The test method uses a tissue-simulating model of the human head and body.
Standardized SAR test methodology is expected to greatly improve the consistency
of measurements made at different laboratories on the same tablet. 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 tablet complies with safety guidelines.
9. What steps can I take to reduce my exposure to
Radio Frequency energy from my tablet?
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 Radio Frequency
(RF) energy. Since time is a key factor in how much exposure a person receives,
reducing the amount of time spent using a tablet will reduce RF exposure. If you
must conduct extended conversations using a wireless device 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 tablet away from your body or use a wireless device connected to a remote