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For Your Safety 115
FDA Consumer Update
The U.S. Food and Drug Administration’s Center for Devices and Radiological
Health Consumer Update on Mobile Phones:
1. Do wireless devices pose a health hazard?
The available scientific evidence does not show that any health problems
are associated with using wireless devices. There is no proof, however, that
wireless devices are absolutely safe. Wireless devices emit low levels of Radio
Frequency (RF) energy in the microwave range while being used. They also
emit very low levels of RF when in standby mode. Whereas high levels of RF
can produce health effects (by heating tissue), exposure to low level RF that
does not produce heating effects causes no known adverse health effects.
Many studies of low level RF exposures have not found any biological effects.
Some studies have suggested that some biological effects may occur, but
such findings have not been confirmed by additional research. In some cases,
other researchers have had difficulty in reproducing those studies, or in
determining the reasons for inconsistent results.
2. What is the FDA’s role concerning the safety of wireless
devices?
Under the law, the FDA does not review the safety of radiation-emitting
consumer products such as wireless devices before they can be sold, as it does
with new drugs or medical devices. However, the agency has authority to take
action if wireless devices 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 devices to notify users of the health hazard and
to repair, replace, or recall the devices so that the hazard no longer exists.
Although the existing scientific data do not justify FDA regulatory actions,
the FDA has urged the wireless device 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 devices;
• Design wireless devices in a way that minimizes any RF exposure to the
user that is not necessary for device function; and
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