Are Wireless Phones and Devices Safe?
Scientific research on the subject of wireless devices and radio
frequency ("RF") energy has been conducted worldwide for
many years, and continues. In the United States, the Food and
Drug Administration ("FDA") and the Federal Communications
Commission ("FCC") set policies and procedures for wireless
devices. The FDA issued a website publication on health issues
related to cell phone usage where it states that, while research
is ongoing, "available scientific evidence—including World
Health Organization ["WHO"] findings [in the Interphone study]
released May 17, 2010—shows no increased health risk due
to radiofrequency (RF) energy, a form of electromagnetic
radiation that is emitted by cell phones." The FDA also cites
a separate National Cancer Institute program finding that,
despite the dramatic increase in cell phone use, occurrences
of brain cancer did not increase between 1987 and 2005.
You can access the FDA website at http://www.fda.gov/
ForConsumers/ConsumerUpdates/ucm212273.htm. You
can also contact the FDA toll-free at (888) 463-6332 or (888)
INFO-FDA. The FCC has its own website publication stating
that "[t]here is no scientific evidence that proves that wireless
phone usage can lead to cancer or other problems, including
headaches, dizziness or memory loss." This publication
is available at http://www.fcc.gov/cgb/cellular.html or
through the FCC at (888) 225-5322 or (888) CALL-FCC. The
National Cancer Institute ("NCI") states that concerns about
the potential health effects of using cellular phones—"and
specifically the suggestion that using a cell phone may increase
a person's risk of developing brain cancer—are not supported
by a growing body of research on the subject." You can access
NCI's review of the research at http://www.cancer.gov/
ncicancerbulletin/NCI_Cancer_Bulletin_092308/page7. The
WHO's Interphone study is the largest study of cell phone use
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