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FDA Consumer Update
153
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 (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 cardiac pacemakers and defibrillators are safe from wireless phone EMI.
FDA has tested hearing aids for interference from handheld wireless phones and helped develop a
voluntary standard sponsored by the Institute of Electrical and Electronic Engineers (IEEE). This
standard specifies test methods and performance requirements for hearing aids and wireless
phones so that that no interference occurs when a person uses a “compatible” phone and a
“compatible” hearing aid at the same time. This standard was approved by the IEEE in 2000.
FDA continues to monitor the use of wireless phones for possible interactions with other medical
devices. Should harmful interference be found to occur, FDA will conduct testing to assess the
interference and work to resolve the problem.
12.Where can I find additional information?
For additional information, please refer to the following resources:
• FDA web page on wireless phones (http://www.fda.gov/cdrh/phones/index.html)
• Federal Communications Commission (FCC) RF Safety Program (http://www.fcc.gov/oet/rfsafety)
• International Commission on Non-Ionizing Radiation Protection (http://www.icnirp.de)
• World Health Organization (WHO) International EMF Project (http://www.who.int/emf)
• National Radiological Protection Board (UK) (http://www.nrpb.org.uk/)