Palm 700P User Manual
Page 241
I M P O R T A N T S A F E T Y A N D L E G A L I N F O R M A T I O N
235
particular, Section 704 of the Act states that, “No State or local
government or instrumentality thereof may regulate the placement,
construction, and modification of personal wireless service facilities
on the basis of the environmental effects of radio frequency
emissions to the extent that such facilities comply with the
Commission's regulations concerning such emissions.” Further
information on federal authority and FCC policy is available in a fact
sheet from the FCC's Wireless Telecommunications Bureau at
Do wireless smartphones pose a health hazard? The available
scientific evidence does not show that any health problems are
associated with using wireless smartphones. There is no proof,
however, that wireless smartphones are absolutely safe. Wireless
smartphones emit low levels of radiofrequency energy (RF) in the
microwave range while being used. They also emit very low levels of
RF when in the stand-by mode. Whereas high levels of RF can
produce health effects (by heating tissue), exposure to low level RF
that does not produce heating effects causes no known adverse
health effects. Many studies of low level RF exposures have not
found any biological effects. Some studies have suggested that some
biological effects may occur, but such findings have not been
confirmed by additional research. In some cases, other researchers
have had difficulty in reproducing those studies, or in determining the
reasons for inconsistent results.
What is FDA's role concerning the safety of wireless
smartphones? Under the law, FDA does not review the safety of
radiation-emitting consumer products such as wireless smartphones
before they can be sold, as it does with new drugs or medical
devices. However, the agency has authority to take action if wireless
smartphones are shown to emit radiofrequency energy (RF) at a level
that is hazardous to the user. In such a case, FDA could require the
manufacturers of wireless smartphones to notify users of the health
hazard and to repair, replace or recall the smartphones so that the
hazard no longer exists.
Although the existing scientific data do not justify FDA regulatory
actions, FDA has urged the wireless smartphone industry to take a
number of steps, including the following:
•
Support needed research into possible biological effects of RF of
the type emitted by wireless smartphones;
•
Design wireless smartphones in a way that minimizes any RF
exposure to the user that is not necessary for device function;
and
•
Cooperate in providing users of wireless smartphones with the
best possible information on possible effects of wireless
smartphone use on human health
FDA belongs to an interagency working group of the federal agencies
that have responsibility for different aspects of RF safety to ensure
coordinated efforts at the federal 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 Administration
The National Institutes of Health participates in some interagency
working group activities, as well.
FDA shares regulatory responsibilities for wireless smartphones with
the Federal Communications Commission (FCC). All smartphones
that are sold in the United States must comply with FCC safety
guidelines that limit RF exposure. FCC relies on FDA and other health
agencies for safety questions about wireless smartphones.
FCC also regulates the base stations that the wireless smartphone
networks rely upon. While these base stations operate at higher
power than do the wireless smartphones themselves, the RF
exposures that people get from these base stations are typically
thousands of times lower than those they can get from wireless
smartphones. Base stations are thus not the primary subject of the
safety questions discussed in this document.
What kinds of smartphones are the subject of this update? The
term “wireless smartphone” refers here to hand-held wireless
smartphones with built-in antennas, often called “cell,” “mobile,” or
“PCS” smartphones. These types of wireless smartphones can
expose the user to measurable radiofrequency energy (RF) because
of the short distance between the smartphone and the user's head.
These RF exposures are limited by Federal Communications