Jitterbug J User Manual

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HealthandSafetyInformation

138HealthandSafetyInformation

HealthandSafetyInformation

HealthandSafetyInformation139

What research is needed to decide whether RF exposure from wireless

phones poses a health risk?

A combination of laboratory studies and epidemiological studies of people actually

using wireless phones would provide some of the data that are needed. Lifetime animal

exposure studies could be completed in a few years. However, very large numbers of

animals would be needed to provide reliable proof of a cancer promoting effect if one

exists. Epidemiological studies can provide data that is directly applicable to human

populations, but ten or more years’ follow–up may be needed to provide answers about

some health effects, such as cancer.

This is because the interval between the time of exposure to a cancer–causing agent

and the time tumors develop if they do may be many, many years. The interpretation

ofepidemiologicalstudiesishamperedbydifcultiesinmeasuringactualRFexposure

duringday–to–dayuseofwirelessphones.Manyfactorsaffectthismeasurement,such

as the angle at which the phone is held or which model of phone is used.

What is FDA doing to nd out more about the possible health effects of

wireless phone RF?

TheFDAisworkingwiththeU.S.NationalToxicologyProgramandgroupsofinvestigators

around the world to ensure that high priority animal studies are conducted to address

important questions about the effects of exposure to radio frequency energy (RF).

TheFDAhasbeenaleadingparticipantintheWorldHealthOrganizationinternational

ElectromagneticFields(EMF)Projectsinceitsinceptionin1996.Aninuentialresult

of this work has been the development of a detailed agenda of research needs that

has driven the establishment of new research programs around the world. The Project

hasalsohelpeddevelopaseriesofpublicinformationdocumentsonEMFissues.The

FDA and Cellular Telecommunications and Internet Association (CTIA) have a formal

Cooperative Research and Development Agreement (CRADA) to do research on wireless

phonesafety.TheFDAprovidesthescienticoversight,obtaininginputfromexpertsin

government, industry and academic organizations. CTIA–funded research is conducted

through contracts to independent investigators. The initial research will include both

laboratory studies and studies of wireless phone users. The CRADA will also include

1008301_GreatCall_jB_HowToGuide_R6.indd 148-149 10/13/10 12:12 PM

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User Manual - Page 76