Pantech DM P100 User Manual

Page 69

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133

CH 5

FDA CONSUMER UPDATE

If you want to take steps to lower exposure to radiofre-

quency energy (RF), the measures described above

would apply to children and teenagers using wireless

phones. Reducing the time of wireless phone use and

increasing the distance between the user and the RF

source will reduce RF exposure. Some groups spon-

sored by other national governments have advised

that children be discouraged from using wireless

phones at all. For example, the government in the

United Kingdom distributed leaflets containing such a

recommendation in December 2000. They noted that

no evidence exists that us-ing a wireless phone caus-

es brain tumors or other ill effects. Their recommenda-

tion to limit wireless phone use by children was strict-

ly precautionary; it was not based on scientific evi-

dence that any health hazard exists.

11. What about wireless phone interference with

medical equipment?

Radiofrequency energy (RF) from wireless phones can

interact with some electronic devices. For this reason,

FDA helped develop a detailed test method to measure

electromagnetic interference (EMI) of implanted car-

diac pacemakers and defibrillators from wireless tele-

phones. This test method is now part of a standard

sponsored by the Association for the Advancement of

Medical instrumentation (AAMI). The final draft, a joint

effort by FDA, medical device manufacturers, and

many other groups, was completed in late 2000. This

standard will allow manufacturers to ensure that car-

diac pacemakers and defibrillators are safe from wire-

less phone EMI.

132

FDA CONSUMER UPDATE

9. What steps can I take to reduce my exposure to

radiofrequency energy from my wireless phone?

If there is a risk from these products—and at this

point we do not know that there is—it is probably very

small. But if you are concerned about avoiding even

potential risks, you can take a few simple steps to

minimize your exposure to radiofrequency energy

(RF). Since time is a key factor in how much exposure

a person receives, reducing the amount of time spent

using a wireless phone will reduce RF exposure.

• If you must conduct extended conversations by

wireless phone every day, you could place more

distance between your body and the source of the

RF, since the exposure level drops off dramatically

with distance. For example, you could use a headset

and carry the wireless phone away from your body

or use a wireless phone connected to a remote

antenna.

Again, the scientific data do not demonstrate that

wireless phones are harmful. But if you are concerned

about the RF exposure from these products, you can

use measures like those described above to reduce

your RF exposure from wireless phone use.

10. What about children using wireless phones?

The scientific evidence does not show a danger to

users of wireless phones, including children and

teenagers.

CH 5

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