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For Your Safety 137
10. What about children using devices?
The scientific evidence does not show a danger to users of devices, including
children and teenagers. If you want to take steps to lower exposure to Radio
Frequency (RF) energy, the measures described above would apply to children
and teenagers using devices. Reducing the time of device use and increasing the
distance between the user and the RF source will reduce RF exposure.
Some groups sponsored by other national governments have advised that children
be discouraged from using wireless devices at all. For example, the government
in the United Kingdom distributed leaflets containing such a recommendation in
December 2000. They noted that no evidence exists that using a wireless device
causes brain tumors or other ill effects. Their recommendation to limit wireless
device use by children was strictly precautionary; it was not based on scientific
evidence that any health hazard exists.
11. What about wireless communications device interference with medical
equipment?
Radio Frequency (RF) energy from wireless communications devices can interact
with some electronic devices. For this reason, the FDA helped develop a detailed
test method to measure Electro Magnetic Interference (EMI) of implanted cardiac
pacemakers and defibrillators from wireless devices. This test method is now
part of a standard sponsored by the Association for the Advancement of Medical
Instrumentation (AAMI). The final draft, a joint effort by the FDA, medical device
manufacturers, and many other groups, was completed in late 2000. This standard
will allow manufacturers to ensure that cardiac pacemakers and defibrillators are
safe from wireless communications device EMI.
The FDA continues to monitor the use of wireless devices for possible interactions
with other medical devices. Should harmful interference be found to occur, the FDA
will conduct testing to assess the interference and work to resolve the problem.
12. Where can I find additional information?
For additional information, please refer to the following resources:
FDA web page on wireless devices
(
http://www.fda.gov/Radiation-EmittingProducts/
RadiationEmittingProductsandProcedures/HomeBusinessandEntertainment/
CellPhones/default.htm
)
Federal Communications Commission (FCC) RF Safety Program
(
http://www.fcc.gov/oet/rfsafety
)
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