LG -IP3100 User Manual

Page 34

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6. What is FDA doing to find out more about the

possible health effects of wireless phone RF?

FDA is working with the U.S. National Toxicology

Program and with groups of investigators around the

world to ensure that high priority animal studies are

conducted to address important questions about the

effects of exposure to radiofrequency energy (RF).

FDA has been a leading participant in the World

Health Organization International Electromagnetic

Fields (EMF) Project since its inception in 1996. An

influential result of this work has been the develop-

ment of a detailed agenda of research needs that

has driven the establishment of new research pro-

grams around the world.The Project has also helped

develop a series of public information documents on

EMF issues.

FDA and the Cellular Telecommunications & Internet

Association (CTIA) have a formal Cooperative

Research and Development Agreement (CRADA) to

do research on wireless phone safety. FDA provides

the scientific oversight, obtaining input from experts

in government, industry, and academic organiza-

tions. CTIA-funded research is conducted through

contracts to independent investigators. The initial

research will include both laboratory studies and

studies of wireless phone users. The CRADA will

also include a broad assessment of additional

research needs in the context of the latest research

developments around the world.

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between the use of wireless phones and primary

brain cancer, glioma, meningioma, or acoustic neu-

roma, tumors of the brain or salivary gland, leukemia,

or other cancers. None of the studies demonstrated

the existence of any harmful health effects from wire-

less phone RF exposures. However, none of the

studies can answer questions about long-term expo-

sures, since the average period of phone use in

these studies was around three years.

5. What research is needed to decide whether RF

exposure from wireless phones poses a health

risk?

A combination of laboratory studies and epidemio-

logical studies of people actually using wireless

phones would provide some of the data that are

needed. Lifetime animal exposure studies could be

completed in a few years. However, very large num-

bers of anime health effects, such as cancer. This is

because the interval between the time of exposure to

a cancer-causing agent and the time tumors develop

- if they do - may be many, many years. The inter-

pretation of epidemiological studies is hampered by

difficulties in measuring actual RF exposure during

day-to-day use of wireless phones. Many factors

affect this measurement, such as the angle at which

the phone is held, or which model of phone is used.

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Chapter 6

Safety Guidelines

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