Appendix c: consumer update on wireless phones, Do wireless phones pose a health hazard – Samsung SGH-C225NBATMB User Manual
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Appendix C: Consumer Update on Wireless Phones
137
Appendix C: Consumer Update
on Wireless Phones
U.S. Food and Drug Administration
1. What kinds of phones are the subject of this update?
The term wireless phone refers here to hand-held wireless 
phones with built-in antennas, often called cell, mobile, or PCS 
phones. These types of wireless phones can expose the user to 
measurable radio frequency energy (RF) because of the short 
distance between the phone and the user s head. These RF 
exposures are limited by Federal Communications Commission 
safety guidelines that were developed with the advice of FDA 
and other federal health and safety agencies. When the phone 
is located at greater distances from the user, the exposure to RF 
is drastically lower because a person’s RF exposure decreases 
rapidly with increasing distance from the source. The so-called 
“cordless phones,” which have a base unit connected to the 
telephone wiring in a house, typically operate at far lower 
power levels, and thus produce RF exposures well within the 
FCC’s compliance limits.
2. Do wireless phones pose a health hazard?
The available scientific evidence does not show that any health 
problems are associated with using wireless phones. There is no 
proof, however, that wireless phones are absolutely safe. 
Wireless phones emit low levels of radio frequency 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