Background
Since 1996, the Federal Communications
Commission (FCC) has required that all wireless telephones,
including cellular and Personal Communications Services (PCS)
telephones sold in the United States, meet minimum guidelines
regarding safe human exposure to radio frequency (RF) energy
emitted from these telephones. In the U.S., the FCC and the Food
and Drug Administration (FDA) share regulatory responsibilities
for health concerns related to wireless telephones. Because the
FCC is not a health and safety agency, it defers to other
organizations and agencies, such as the FDA, to evaluate the
results of biological and health studies that are necessary for
determining safe levels for human exposure to RF emissions.
The limits for wireless telephone exposure
adopted by the FCC are the exposure levels recommended by two
non-profit, expert organizations, the Institute of Electrical and
Electronics Engineers (IEEE), and the National Council on
Radiation Protection and Measurements (NCRP). The FCC also
consulted with the FDA and other federal agencies with interests
and responsibilities in this area, and obtained their support for
the FCC’s guidelines as being protective of public health.
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Guidelines
The FCC’s guidelines specify exposure
limits for hand-held wireless telephones and similar devices
in terms of the Specific Absorption Rate (SAR). The SAR is a
measure of the rate that RF energy is absorbed by the body.
For exposure from wireless telephones, the allowable FCC SAR
limit is 1.6 watts per kilogram (W/kg), as averaged over one
gram of tissue.
There is no scientific evidence that
proves that wireless telephone usage can lead to cancer or
other problems such as headaches, dizziness, or memory loss.
Many domestic and international organizations, however, are
sponsoring research and investigating claims of possible
health effects related to the use of wireless telephones.
The federal government monitors the results of this ongoing
research, and the FDA is participating in an industry-funded
research project to further investigate possible biological
effects of wireless telephone usage. |
Helpful Consumer Websites
The FCC and the FDA have developed a joint
Web site to provide the latest information on health concerns
relating to wireless telephone usage, current research, and
related issues. Visit the FCC’s RF Safety Web site at
www.fcc.gov/oet/rfsafety to access this information. You can
also call the FCC’s Consumer Center at 1-888-CALL-FCC
(1-888-225-5322) voice or 1-888-TELL-FCC (1-888-835-5322) TTY.
The World Health Organization (WHO) has
established an International Electromagnetic Field (EMF) Project
to provide information in this area, establish research needs,
and promote harmonization of exposure standards for RF energy.
More information is available
www.who.int/peh-emf.
Additional Requirements
The FCC will withhold or withdraw its
approval of wireless telephones that exceed the FCC’s guidelines.
If a wireless telephone’s RF emissions are deemed hazardous to
users, the FDA has authority to require the manufacturer of the
wireless telephone to notify users of the health hazard and to
repair, replace, or recall the telephones.
The FCC does not require manufacturers to
publicize the maximum SAR values for their telephones. Many
manufacturers however, voluntarily provide this information for
many models of wireless telephones. The FCC Web site,
www.fcc.gov, has links to the
sources of this information. Keep in mind, however, that as long
as a wireless telephone complies with the FCC’s guidelines, it is
safe for consumer use.
Some studies have shown that wireless
telephones might interfere with implanted cardiac pacemakers if
used in close proximity (within 8 inches) of a pacemaker.
Pacemaker users may want to avoid placing or using a wireless
telephone near the pacemaker. The FCC/FDA Web site provides more
information on this topic.
For More Information
For information about other communications
issues, visit the FCC’s Consumer & Governmental Affairs Bureau
Web site at
www.fcc.gov/cgb, or contact the FCC’s
Consumer Center by e-mailing
fccinfo@fcc.gov; calling 1-888-CALL-FCC (1-888-225-5322)
voice or 1-888-TELL-FCC (1-888-835-5322) TTY; faxing
1-866-418-0232; or writing to:
Federal Communications Commission
Consumer & Governmental Affairs Bureau
Consumer Information and Complaints Division
445 12th Street, SW
Washington, D.C. 20554.
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Federal Communications Commission
