LGUS997 User Manual

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For Your Safety 177

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 scientific

data do 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 group

activities, as well.

The FDA shares regulatory responsibilities for wireless phones with the Federal

CommunicationsCommission(FCC).AllphonesthataresoldintheUnitedStates

mustcomplywithFCCsafetyguidelinesthatlimitRFexposure.TheFCCrelieson

the FDA and other health agencies for safety questions about wireless phones.

TheFCCalsoregulatesthebasestationsthatthewirelessphonenetworksrely

upon. While these base stations operate at higher power than do the wireless

phones themselves, the RF exposures that people get from these base stations are

typically thousands of times lower than those they can get from wireless phones.

Base stations are thus not the subject of the safety questions discussed in this

document.

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User Manual - Page 178