Samsung SCH-S720C User Manual

Contents

116Hands-Free KitsHands-free kits may include audio or Bluetooth® headsets andvarious types of body-worn accessories such as belt-clips andholsters. Combinations of these can be used to reduce RF energyabsorption from cell phones.Headsets can substantially reduce exposure because the phoneis held away from the head in the user's hand or in approvedbody-worn accessories. Cell phones marketed in the U.S. arerequired to meet RF exposure compliance requirements whenused against the head and against the body.Because there are no known risks from exposure to RF emissionsfrom cell phones, there is no reason to believe that hands-freekits reduce risks. Hands-free kits can be used for convenienceand comfort. They are also required by law in many states if youwant to use your phone while driving.Cell Phone Accessories that Claim to Shield the Head from RFRadiationBecause there are no known risks from exposure to RF emissionsfrom cell phones, there is no reason to believe that accessorieswhich claim to shield the head from those emissions reducerisks. Some products that claim to shield the user from RFabsorption use special phone cases, while others involve nothingmore than a metallic accessory attached to the phone.Studies have shown that these products generally do not work asadvertised. Unlike “hands-free” kits, these so-called “shields”may interfere with proper operation of the phone. The phone maybe forced to boost its power to compensate, leading to anincrease in RF absorption.Children and Cell PhonesThe scientific evidence does not show a danger to any users ofcell phones from RF exposure, including children and teenagers.The steps adults can take to reduce RF exposure apply tochildren and teenagers as well.• Reduce the amount of time spent on the cell phone;• Use speaker mode or a headset to place more distance between thehead and the cell phone.Some groups sponsored by other national governments haveadvised that children be discouraged from using cell phones atall. For example, The Stewart Report from the United Kingdommade such a recommendation in December 2000. In this report,a group of independent experts noted that no evidence exists thatusing a cell phone causes brain tumors or other ill effects. Theirrecommendation to limit cell phone use by children was strictlyprecautionary; it was not based on scientific evidence that anyhealth hazard exists.