190Section 14marketed in the U.S. are required to meet safetyrequirements regardless of whether they are used againstthe head or against the body. Either configuration shouldresult in compliance with the safety limit.Do wireless phone accessories that claim to shieldthe head from RF radiation work?Since there are no known risks from exposure to RFemissions from wireless phones, there is no reason tobelieve that accessories that claim to shield the head fromthose emissions reduce risks. Some products that claim toshield the user from RF absorption use special phonecases, while others involve nothing more than a metallicaccessory attached to the phone. Studies have shown thatthese products generally do not work as advertised.Unlike "hand-free" kits, these so-called "shields" mayinterfere with proper operation of the phone. The phonemay be forced to boost its power to compensate, leadingto an increase in RF absorption. In February 2002, theFederal trade Commission (FTC) charged two companiesthat sold devices that claimed to protect wireless phoneusers from radiation with making false andunsubstantiated claims. According to FTC, thesedefendants lacked a reasonable basis to substantiate theirclaim.What about wireless phone interference withmedical equipment?Radio frequency energy (RF) from wireless phones caninteract with some electronic devices. For this reason,FDA helped develop a detailed test method to measureelectromagnetic interference (EMI) of implanted cardiac
