Safety
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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.
11. What about wireless phone interference
with medical equipment?
Radio Frequency (RF) energy from wireless phones
can interact with some electronic devices. For this
reason, the FDA helped develop a detailed test
method to measure Electro Magnetic 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 the 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.