LG US780 - Page 99

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Safety
ndingshavenotbeenconrmedbyadditionalresearch.Insomecases,other
researchershavehaddifcultyinreproducingthosestudies,orindetermining
thereasonsforinconsistentresults.
2. What is the FDA’s role concerning the safety of wireless phones?
Underthelaw,theFDAdoesnotreviewthesafetyofradiation-emitting
consumerproductssuchaswirelessphonesbeforetheycanbesold,
asitdoeswithnewdrugsormedicaldevices.However,theagency
hasauthoritytotakeactionifwirelessphonesareshowntoemitRadio
Frequency(RF)energyatalevelthatishazardoustotheuser.Insucha
case,theFDAcouldrequirethemanufacturersofwireless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scienticdatadoesnotjustifyFDAregulatoryactions,
theFDAhasurgedthewirelessphoneindustrytotakeanumberofsteps,
includingthefollowing:
• SupportneededresearchintopossiblebiologicaleffectsofRFofthe
typeemittedbywirelessphones;
• DesignwirelessphonesinawaythatminimizesanyRFexposuretothe
userthatisnotnecessaryfordevicefunction;and
• Cooperateinprovidingusersofwirelessphoneswiththebestpossible
informationonpossibleeffectsofwirelessphoneuseonhumanhealth.
TheFDAbelongstoaninteragencyworkinggroupofthefederalagencies
thathaveresponsibilityfordifferentaspectsofRFsafetytoensure
coordinatedeffortsatthefederallevel.Thefollowingagenciesbelongto
thisworkinggroup:
• NationalInstituteforOccupationalSafetyandHealth
• EnvironmentalProtectionAgency
• OccupationalSafetyandHealthAdministration
• NationalTelecommunicationsandInformationAdministration
TheNationalInstitutesofHealthparticipatesinsomeinteragencyworking