7. How can I find out how much radio
frequency energy exposure I can get
by using my wireless phone?
All phones sold in the United States must
comply with Federal Communications
Commission (FCC) guidelines that limit
radio frequency energy (RF) exposures.
The FCC established these guidelines in
consultation with the FDA and the other
federal health and safety agencies. The
FCC limit for RF exposure from wireless
telephones is set at a Specific Absorption
Rate (SAR) of 1.6 watts per kilogram
(1.6 W/kg). The FCC limit is consistent
with the safety standards developed by
the Institute of Electrical and Electronic
Engineering (IEEE) and the National
Council on Radiation Protection and
Measurement. The exposure limit takes
into consideration the body's ability
to remove heat from the tissues that
absorb energy from the wireless phone
and is set well below levels known to
have effects. Manufacturers of wireless
phones must report the RF exposure level
for each model of phone to the FCC.
The FCC website (http://www.fcc.gov/)
gives directions for locating the FCC
identification number on your phone so
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you can find your phone's RF exposure
level in the online listing.
8. What has the FDA done to measure the
radio frequency energy coming from
wireless phones?
The Institute of Electrical and Electronic
Engineers (IEEE) is developing a
technical standard for measuring the
radio frequency energy (RF) exposure
from wireless 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 tissuesimulating 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