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convenience and comfort. These systems reduce the absorption of
RF energy in the head because the phone, which is the source of the
RF emissions, will not be placed against the head. On the other hand,
if the phone is mounted against the waist or other part of the body
during use, then that part of the body will absorb more RF energy.
Wireless phones marketed in the U.S. are required to meet safety
requirements regardless of whether they are used against the head or
against the body. Either configuration should result in compliance
with the safety limit.
8. Do wireless phone accessories that claim to shield the head from
RF radiation work?
Since there are no known risks from exposure to RF emissions from
wireless phones, there is no reason to believe that accessories that
claim to shield the head from those emissions reduce risks. Some
products that claim to shield the user from RF absorption use special
phone cases, while others involve nothing more than a metallic
accessory attached to the phone. Studies have shown that these
products generally do not work as advertised. Unlike “hand-free”
kits, these so-called “shields” may interfere with proper operation of
the phone. The phone may be forced to boost its power to
compensate, leading to an increase in RF absorption. In February
2002, the Federal trade Commission (FTC) charged two companies
that sold devices that claimed to protect wireless phone users from
radiation with making false and unsubstantiated claims. According to
FTC, these defendants lacked a reasonable basis to substantiate their
claim.
9. What about wireless phone interference with medical equipment?
Radio frequency 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