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phone industry to take a number of steps to assure public
safety. The agency has recommended that the industry:
• support needed research into possible biological effects
of RF of the type emitted by mobile phones
• design mobile phones in a way that minimizes any RF
exposure to the user that is not necessary for device
function
• cooperate in providing mobile phone users with the best
possible information on what is known about possible
effects of mobile phone use on human health
At the same time, FDA belongs to an interagency working
group of the federal agencies that have responsibility for
different aspects of mobile phone safety to ensure a
coordinated effort at the federal level. These agencies are:
• National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health
• Environmental Protection Agency
• Federal Communications Commission
• Occupational Health and Safety Administration
• National Telecommunications and Information
Administration
The National Institutes of Health also participates in this
group.
In the absence of conclusive information about
any possible risk, what can concerned
individuals do?
If there is a risk from these products—and at this point we do
not know that there is—it is probably very small. But if people
are concerned about avoiding even potential risks, there are
simple steps they can take to do so. For example, time is a
key factor in how much exposure a person receives. Those
persons who spend long periods of time on their hand-held
mobile phones could consider holding lengthy conversations
on conventional phones and reserving the hand-held models
for shorter conversations or for situations when other types of
phones are not available.
People who must conduct extended conversations in their
cars every day could switch to a type of mobile phone that
places more distance between their bodies and the source of
the RF, since the exposure level drops off dramatically with
distance. For example, they could switch to:
• a mobile phone in which the antenna is located outside
the vehicle
• a hand-held phone with a built-in antenna connected to a
different antenna mounted on the outside of the car or
built into a separate package
• a headset with a remote antenna to a mobile phone
carried at the waist
Again, the scientific data do not demonstrate that mobile
phones are harmful. But if people are concerned about the
radio frequency energy from these products, taking the simple
precautions outlined above can reduce any possible risk.
Where can I find additional information?
For additional information, see the following Web sites:
Federal Communications Commission (FCC) RF Safety
Program (select "Information on Human Exposure to RF
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