UTStarcom PCS1400 User's Guide download pdf (Page 53)

105

SAFETY

A combination of laboratory studies and epidemiological studies of people actually using wireless phones would

provide some of the data that are needed. Lifetime animal exposure studies could be completed in a few years.

However, very large numbers of animals would be needed to provide reliable proof of a cancer promoting effect

if one exists. Epidemiological studies can provide data that is directly applicable to human populations, but 10

or more years’ follow-up may be needed to provide answers about some health effects, such as cancer. This is

because the interval between the time of exposure to a cancer-causing agent and the time tumors develop - if

they do - may be many, many years. The interpretation of epidemiological studies is hampered by difficulties in

measuring actual RF exposure during day-to-day use of wireless phones. Many factors affect this measurement,

such as the angle at which the phone is held, or which model of phone is used.

6. What is FDA doing to find out more about the possible health effects of wireless phone RF?

FDA is working with the U.S. National Toxicology Program and with groups of investigators around the world to

ensure that high priority animal studies are conducted to address important questions about the effects of

exposure to radiofrequency energy (RF).

FDA has been a leading participant in the World Health Organization International Electromagnetic Fields (EMF)

Project since its inception in 1996. An influential result of this work has been the development of a detailed

agenda of research needs that has driven the establishment of new research programs around the world. The

Project has also helped develop a series of public information documents on EMF issues.

FDA and the Cellular Telecommunications & Internet Association (CTIA) have a formal Cooperative Research

and Development Agreement (CRADA) to do research on wireless phone safety. FDA provides the scientific

oversight, obtaining input from experts in government, industry, and academic organizations. CTIA-funded

research is conducted through contracts to independent investigators. The initial research will include both

laboratory studies and studies of wireless phone users. The CRADA will also include a broad assessment of

additional research needs in the context of the latest research developments around the world.

7. What steps can I take to reduce my exposure to radiofrequency energy from my wireless phone?

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 you are concerned about avoiding even potential risks, you can take a few simple steps to minimize your

exposure to radiofrequency energy (RF). Since time is a key factor in how much exposure a person receives,

reducing the amount of time spent using a wireless phone will reduce RF exposure.

SAFETY

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• Occupational Safety and Health Administration

• National Telecommunications and Information Administration

The National Institutes of Health participates in some interagency working group activities, as well.

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.

FCC relies on FDA and other health agencies for safety questions about wireless phones.

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 primary subject of the safety questions discussed in this document.

4. What are the results of the research done already?

The research done thus far has produced conflicting results, and many studies have suffered from flaws in their

research methods. Animal experiments investigating the effects of radiofrequency energy (RF) exposures

characteristic of wireless phones have yielded conflicting results that often cannot be repeated in other

laboratories. A few animal studies, however, have suggested that low levels of RF could accelerate the

development of cancer in laboratory animals. However, many of the studies that showed increased tumor

development used animals that had been genetically engineered or treated with cancer-causing chemicals so as

to be pre-disposed to develop cancer in the absence of RF exposure. Other studies exposed the animals to RF

for up to 22 hours per day. These conditions are not similar to the conditions under which people use wireless

phones, so we don’t know with certainty what the results of such studies mean for human health.

Three large epidemiology studies have been published since December 2000. Between them, the studies

investigated any possible association between the use of wireless phones and primary brain cancer, glioma,

meningioma, or acoustic neuroma, tumors of the brain or salivary gland, leukemia, or other cancers. None of

the studies demonstrated the existence of any harmful health effects from wireless phone RF exposures.

However, none of the studies can answer questions about long-term exposures, since the average period of

phone use in these studies was around three years.

5. What research is needed to decide whether RF exposure from wireless phones poses a health risk?

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