Section 11: Health and Safety Information 133Consumer Information on Wireless PhonesSection 11greater distances from the user, the exposure to RF isdrastically lower because a person's RF exposuredecreases rapidly with increasing distance from thesource. The so-called "cordless phones," which have abase unit connected to the telephone wiring in a house,typically operate at far lower power levels, and thusproduce RF exposures well within the FCC's compliancelimits.Do wireless phones pose a health hazard?The available scientific evidence does not show that anyhealth problems are associated with using wirelessphones. There is no proof, however, that wireless phonesare absolutely safe. Wireless phones emit low levels ofradio frequency energy (RF) in the microwave rangewhile being used. They also emit very low levels of RFwhen in the stand-by mode. Whereas high levels of RF canproduce health effects (by heating tissue), exposure to lowlevel RF that does not produce heating effects causes noknown adverse health effects. Many studies of low levelRF exposures have not found any biological effects. Somestudies have suggested that some biological effects mayoccur, but such findings have not been confirmed byadditional research. In some cases, other researchers havehad difficulty in reproducing those studies, or indetermining the reasons for inconsistent results.What is FDA's role concerning the safety of wirelessphones?Under the law, FDA does not review the safety ofradiation-emitting consumer products such as wirelessphones before they can be sold, as it does with new drugs
