Nokia 6230 User Manual

Page 186

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Appendix B Message from the FDA

phones and other wireless handsets with the participation and leadership of FDA

scientists and engineers. The standard, Recommended Practice for Determining the

Spatial-Peak Specific Absorption Rate (SAR) in the Human Body Due to Wireless

Communications Devices: Experimental Techniques, sets forth the first consistent

test methodology for measuring the rate at which RF is deposited in the heads of

wireless phone users. The test method uses a tissue-simulating model of the human

head. Standardized SAR test methodology is expected to greatly improve the

consistency of measurements made at different laboratories on the same phone.

SAR is the measurement of the amount of energy absorbed in tissue, either by the

whole body or a small part of the body. It is measured in watts/kg (or milliwatts/g)

of matter. This measurement is used to determine whether a wireless phone

complies with safety guidelines.
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. If you want to take steps to lower exposure to

radiofrequency 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 sponsored 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 using

a wireless phone causes brain tumors or other ill effects. Their recommendation to

limit wireless phone use by children was strictly precautionary; it was not based on

scientific evidence 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 cardiac pacemakers and

defibrillators from wireless telephones. This test method is now part of a standard

sponsored by the Association for the Advancement of Medical instrumentation

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