Pantech Hotshot User Manual

Also see for Hotshot: Guías del usuario

1260102030405060708127FDA CONSUMER UPDATEU.S. FOOD AND DRUG ADMINISTRATION - CENTERFOR DEVICES AND RADIOLOGICAL HEALTHCONSUMER UPDATE ON WIRELESS PHONES1. Do wireless phones pose a health hazard?The available scientific evidence does not show that any health problems areassociated with using wireless phones. There is no proof, however, that wirelessphones are absolutely safe. Wireless phones emit low levels of radiofrequencyenergy (RF) in the microwave range while being used. They also emit verylow levels of RF when in the idle mode. Whereas high levels of RF can producehealth effects (by heating tissue), exposure to low level RF that does not produceheating effects causes no known adverse health effects. Many studies of lowlevel RF exposures have not found any biological effects. Some studies havesuggested that some biological effects may occur, but such findings have notbeen confirmed by additional research. In some cases, other researchers havehad difficulty in reproducing those studies, or in determining the reasons forinconsistent results.2. What is FDA’s role concerning the safety of wireless phones?Under the law, FDA does not review the safety of radiation-emitting consumerproducts such as wireless phones before they can be sold, as it does with newdrugs or medical devices. However, the agency has authority to take action ifwireless phones are shown to emit radiofrequency energy (RF) at a level thatis hazardous to the user. In such a case, FDA could require the manufacturers ofwireless phones to notify users of the health hazard and to repair, replace or recallthe phones so that the hazard no longer exists. Although the existing scientificdata do not justify FDA regulatory actions, FDA has urged the wireless phoneindustry to take a number of steps, including the following:• Support needed research into possible biological effects of RF of the typeemitted by wireless phones;• Design wireless phones in a way that minimizes any RF exposure to the user thatis not necessary for device function;and• Cooperate in providing users of wireless phones with the best possibleinformation on possible effects of wireless phone use on human health.FDA belongs to an interagency working group of the federal agencies that haveresponsibility for different aspects of RF safety to ensure coordinated efforts at thefederal level. The following agencies belong to this working group:• National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health• Environmental Protection Agency• Federal Communications Commission• Occupational Safety and Health Administration• National Telecommunications and Information AdministrationThe National Institutes of Health participates in some inter-agency working groupactivities, as well. FDA shares regulatory responsibilities for wireless phones withthe Federal Communications Commission (FCC). All phones that are sold in theUnited States must comply with FCC safety guidelines that limit RF exposure.FCC relies on FDA and other health agencies for safety questions about wirelessphones. FCC also regulates the base stations that the wireless phone networksrely upon. While these base stations operate at higher power than do the wirelessphones themselves, the RF exposures that people get from these base stations aretypically thousands of times lower than those they can get from wireless phones.Base stations are thus not the subject of the safety questions discussed in thisdocument.