leadership of FDA scientists and engineers. The
standard, "Recommended Practice for
Determining the Spatial-Peak Specific Absorption
Rate (SAR) in the Human Body Due to Wireless
Communications Devices: Experimental
Techniques," sets forth the first consistent test
methodology for measuring the rate at which RF
is deposited in the heads of wireless phone users.
The test method uses a tissue-simulating model of
the human head. Standardized SAR test
methodology is expected to greatly improve the
consistency of measurements made at different
laboratories on the same phone. SAR is the
measurement of the amount of energy absorbed
in tissue, either by the whole body or a small part
of the body. It is measured in watts/kg (or
milliwatts/g) of matter. This measurement is used
to determine whether a wireless phone complies
with safety guidelines.
9. What steps can I take to reduce my exposure
to radio frequency 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
radio frequency 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.
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If you must conduct extended conversations by
wireless phone every day, you could place more
distance between your body and the source of
the RF, since the exposure level drops off
dramatically with distance. For example, you
could use a headset and carry the wireless
phone away from your body or use a wireless
phone connected to a remote antenna.
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.
10. 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 radio frequency 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
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