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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 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 does 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 Radio Frequency
(RF) energy, 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?
Radio Frequency (RF) energy from
wireless phones can interact with some
electronic devices. For this reason, the FDA
helped develop a detailed test method
to measure Electro Magnetic 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 the
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.
The FDA has tested hearing aids for
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