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What about children using wireless phones – Sanyo MM-5600 User Manual

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Section 4A: Safety Guidelines

287

Again, the scientific data do not demonstrate that wireless phones are harmful.

But if you are concerned about the RF exposure from these products, you can

use measures like those described above to reduce your RF exposure from

wireless phone use.

What about children using wireless phones?

The scientific evidence does not show a danger to users of wireless phones,

including children and teenagers. If you want to take steps to lower exposure to

radiofrequency energy (RF), the measures described above would apply to

children and teenagers using wireless phones. Reducing the time of wireless

phone 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 phones 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 phone causes brain tumors or other ill effects. Their

recommendation to limit wireless phone use by children was strictly

precautionary; it was not based on scientific evidence that any health hazard

exists.

What about wireless phone interference with medical equipment?

Radiofrequency energy (RF) from wireless phones can interact with some

electronic devices. For this reason, FDA helped develop a detailed test method

to measure electromagnetic interference (EMI) of implanted cardiac

pacemakers and defibrillators from wireless telephones. 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 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 phone EMI.

FDA has tested hearing aids for interference from handheld wireless phones and

helped develop a voluntary standard sponsored by the Institute of Electrical and

Electronic Engineers (IEEE). This standard specifies test methods and

performance requirements for hearing aids and wireless phones so that that no

interference occurs when a person uses a “compatible” phone and a

“compatible” hearing aid at the same time. This standard was approved by the

IEEE in 2000.

FDA continues to monitor the use of wireless phones for possible interactions

with other medical devices. Should harmful interference be found to occur, FDA

will conduct testing to assess the interference and work to resolve the problem.

Which other federal agencies have responsibilities related to potential RF
health effects?

Certain agencies in the Federal Government have been involved in monitoring,

researching or regulating issues related to human exposure to RF radiation.