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Safety
will also include a broad assessment of additional research needs in the
context of the latest research developments around the world.
7. How can I find out how much Radio Frequency energy exposure
I can get by using my wireless phone?
All phones sold in the United States must comply with Federal
Communications Commission (FCC) guidelines that limit Radio Frequency
(RF) energy exposures. The FCC established these guidelines in
consultation with the FDA and the other federal health and safety agencies.
The FCC limit for RF exposure from wireless phones is set at a Specific
Absorption Rate (SAR) of 1.6 watts per kilogram (1.6 W/kg). The FCC limit is
consistent with the safety standards developed by the Institute of Electrical
and Electronic Engineering (IEEE) and the National Council on Radiation
Protection and Measurement. The exposure limit takes into consideration
the body’s ability to remove heat from the tissues that absorb energy from
the wireless phone and is set well below levels known to have effects.
Manufacturers of wireless phones must report the RF exposure level for
each model of phone to the FCC. The FCC website (http://www.fcc.gov/
cgb/cellular.html) gives directions for locating the FCC identification number
on your phone so you can find your phone’s RF exposure level in the online
listing.
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 (RF) energy 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 tissue-simulating 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
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