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Health and Safety Information 85
Reducing Exposure: Hands-Free Kits and
Other Accessories
Steps to Reduce Exposure to Radio
Frequency Energy
If there is a risk from being exposed to radio
frequency energy (RF) from cell phones - and 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 RF exposure.
•
Reduce the amount of time spent using your cell phone;
•
Use speaker mode or a headset to place more distance
between your head and the cell phone.
Hands-Free Kits
Hands-free kits may include audio or Bluetooth®
headsets and various types of body-worn accessories
such as belt-clips and holsters. Combinations of
these can be used to reduce RF energy absorption
from cell phones.
Headsets can substantially reduce exposure because
the phone is held away from the head in the user's
hand or in approved body-worn accessories. Cell
phones marketed in the U.S. are required to meet RF
exposure compliance requirements when used
against the head and against the body.
Because there are no known risks from exposure to
RF emissions from cell phones, there is no reason to
believe that hands-free kits reduce risks. Hands-free
kits can be used for convenience and comfort. They
are also required by law in many states if you want to
use your phone while driving.
Cell Phone Accessories that Claim to Shield
the Head from RF Radiation
Because there are no known risks from exposure to
RF emissions from cell phones, there is no reason to
believe that accessories which claim to shield the
head from those emissions reduce risks. Some
products that claim to shield the user from RF
absorption use special phone cases, while others
involve nothing more than a metallic accessory
attached to the phone. Studies have shown that
these products generally do not work as advertised.
Unlike “hands-free” kits, these so-called “shields”
may interfere with proper operation of the phone. The
phone may be forced to boost its power to
compensate, leading to an increase in RF absorption.
Children and Cell Phones
The scientific evidence does not show a danger to
any users of cell phones from RF exposure, including
children and teenagers. The steps adults can take to
reduce RF exposure apply to children and teenagers
as well.
•
Reduce the amount of time spent on the cell phone;
•
Use speaker mode or a headset to place more distance
between the head and the cell phone.
Some groups sponsored by other national
governments have advised that children be
discouraged from using cell phones at all. For
example, The Stewart Report from the United
Kingdom made such a recommendation in December
2000. In this report, a group of independent experts
noted that no evidence exists that using a cell phone
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