Samsung Electronics Co SGHM130L Cellular/PCS GSM Phone with Bluetooth User Manual SGH E640 lists
Samsung Electronics Co Ltd Cellular/PCS GSM Phone with Bluetooth SGH E640 lists
Users Manual
Health and safety information
Exposure to Radio Frequency (RF)
Signals
Your wireless phone is a radio transmitter
and receiver. It is designed and
manufactured not to exceed the emission
limits for exposure to radio frequency (RF)
energy set by the Federal Communications
Commission (FCC) of the U.S. Government.
These limits are part of comprehensive
guidelines and establish permitted levels of
RF energy for the general population. The
guidelines are based on the safety standards
that were developed by independent
scientific organizations through periodic and
through evaluation of scientific studies.
Health and safety information
The standards include a substantial safety
margin designed to assure the safety of all
persons, regardless of age and health.
The exposure standard for wireless phones
employs a unit of measurement known as
Specific Absorption Rate (SAR). The SAR
limit recommended by the FCC is 1.6W/kg.
1
SAR tests are conducted using standard
operating positions specified by the FCC with
the phone transmitting at its highest
certified power level in all tested frequency
bands.
Although the SAR is determined at the
highest certified power level, the actual SAR
level of the phone while operating can be
well below the maximum value. This is
because the phone is designed to operate at
multiple power levels so as to use only the
power required to reach the network. In
general, the closer you are to a wireless
base station antenna, the lower the power
output of the phone.
Before a new model phone is available for
sale to the public, it must be tested and
certified to the FCC that it does not exceed
the limit established by the government
adopted requirement for safe exposure. The
tests are performed in positions and
1. In the U.S. and Canada, the SAR limit for
mobile phones used by the public is 1.6
watts/kg (W/kg) averaged over one gram of
tissue. The standard incorporates a
substantial margin of safety to give
additional protection for the public and to
account for any variations in
measurements.
Health and safety information
1
locations (e.g., at the ear and worn on the
body) as required by the FCC for each
model. While there may be differences
between the SAR levels of various phones
and at various positions, they all meet the
government requirement.
The FCC has granted an Equipment
Authorization for this model phone with all
reported SAR levels evaluated as in
compliance with the FCC RF exposure
guidelines. SAR information on this model
phone is on file with the FCC and can be
found under the Display Grant section of
http://www.fcc.gov/oet/fccid after searching
on FCC ID printed in the label on the phone.
For body operation
For body worn operation, this model phone
has been tested and meets the FCC RF
exposure guidelines when used with a
Samsung-supplied or approved accessory
designated for this product or when used
with and accessory that contains no metal
and that positions the handset a minimum
from the body.
The minimum distance for this model phone
is written in the FCC certification information
from the body. None compliance with the
above conditions may violate FCC RF
exposure guidelines.
For more Information concerning exposure
to radio frequency signals, see the following
websites:
Health and safety information
Federal Communications Commission (FCC)
http://www.fcc.gov
Cellular Telecommunications Industry
Association (CTIA):
http://www.wow-com.com
U.S.Food and Drug Administration (FDA)
http://www.fda.gov/cdrh/consumer
World Health Organization (WHO)
http://www.who.int/peh-emf/en
Precautions when using batteries
• Never use any charger or battery that is
damaged in any way.
• Use the battery only for its intended
purpose.
• If you use the phone near the network’s
base station, it uses less power; talk and
standby time are greatly affected by the
signal strength on the cellular network
and the parameters set by the network
operator.
• Battery charging time depends on the
remaining battery charge, the type of
battery and the charger used. The
battery can be charged and discharged
hundreds of times, but it will gradually
wear out. When the operation time (talk
time and standby time) is noticeably
Health and safety information
shorter than normal, it is time to buy a
new battery.
• If left unused, a fully charged battery will
discharge itself over time.
• Use only Samsung-approved batteries
and recharge your battery only with
Samsung-approved chargers. When a
charger is not in use, disconnect it from
the power source. Do not leave the
battery connected to a charger for more
than a week, since overcharging may
shorten its life.
• Extreme temperatures will affect the
charging capacity of your battery: it may
require cooling or warming first.
• Do not leave the battery in hot or cold
places, such as in a car in summer or
winter conditions, as you will reduce the
capacity and lifetime of the battery.
Always try to keep the battery at room
temperature. A phone with a hot or cold
battery may temporarily not work, even
when the battery is fully charged. Li-ion
batteries are particularly affected by
temperatures below 0 °C (32 °F).
• Do not short-circuit the battery.
Accidental short-circuiting can occur
when a metallic object (coin, clip or pen)
causes a direct connection between the
+ and – terminals of the battery (metal
strips on the battery), for example when
you carry a spare battery in a pocket or
bag. Short-circuiting the terminals may
damage the battery or the object causing
the short-circuiting.
Health and safety information
• Dispose used batteries in accordance
with local regulations. Always recycle. Do
not dispose batteries in a fire.
Road safety
Your wireless phone gives you the powerful
ability to communicate by voice, almost
anywhere, anytime. But an important
responsibility accompanies the benefits of
wireless phones, one that every user must
uphold.
When driving a car, driving is your first
responsibility. When using your wireless
phone behind the wheel of a car, practice
good common sense and remember the
following tips:
• Get to know your wireless phone and its
features, such as speed dial and redial. If
available, these features help you to
place your call without taking your
attention off the road.
• When available, use a hands-free device.
If possible, add an extra layer of
convenience and safety to your wireless
phone with one of the many hands-free
accessories available today.
• Position your wireless phone within easy
reach. Be able to access your wireless
phone without removing your eyes from
the road. If you get an incoming call at
an inconvenient time, let your voice mail
answer it for you.
Health and safety information
• Let the person you are speaking with
know you are driving; if necessary,
suspend the call in heavy traffic or
hazardous weather conditions. Rain,
sleet, snow, ice, and even heavy traffic
can be hazardous.
• Do not take notes or look up phone
numbers while driving. Jotting down a To
Do list or flipping through your Address
Book takes your attention away from
your primary responsibility, driving
safely.
• Dial sensibly and assess the traffic; if
possible, place calls when you are not
moving or before pulling into traffic. Try
to plan calls when your car will be
stationary. If you need to make a call
while moving, dial only a few numbers,
check the road and your mirrors, then
continue.
• Do not engage in stressful or emotional
conversations that may be distracting.
Make the people with whom you are
talking aware that you are driving and
suspend conversations that have the
potential to divert your attention from
the road.
• Use your wireless phone to call for help.
Dial the emergency number in the case
of fire, traffic accident or medical
emergencies. Remember, it is a free call
on your wireless phone!
• Use your wireless phone to help others in
emergencies. If you see a car accident,
crime in progress or other serious
emergency where lives are in danger, call
the emergency number, as you would
want others to do for you.
Health and safety information
• If you see a broken-down vehicle posing
no serious hazard, a broken traffic
signal, a minor traffic accident where no
one appears injured, or a vehicle you
know to be stolen, call roadside
assistance or any other special non-
emergency wireless number.
Operating environment
Remember to follow any special regulations
in force in any area and always switch off
your phone whenever it is forbidden to use
it, or when it may cause interference or
danger.
When connecting the phone or any
accessory to another device, read its user’s
guide for detailed safety instructions. Do not
connect incompatible products.
As with other mobile radio transmitting
equipment, users are advised that for the
satisfactory operation of the equipment and
for the safety of personnel, it is
recommended that the equipment should
only be used in the normal operating
position (held to your ear with the antenna
pointing over your shoulder).
Electronic devices
Most modern electronic equipment is
shielded from radio frequency (RF) signals.
However, certain electronic equipment may
not be shielded against the RF signals from
your wireless phone. Consult the
manufacturer to discuss alternatives.
Pacemakers
Health and safety information
Pacemaker manufacturers recommend that
a minimum distance of 15 cm (6 inches) be
maintained between a wireless phone and a
pacemaker to avoid potential interference
with the pacemaker. These
recommendations are consistent with the
independent research and recommendations
of Wireless Technology Research.
Persons with pacemakers:
• should always keep the phone more than
15 cm (6 inches) from their pacemaker
when the phone is switched on.
• should not carry the phone in a breast
pocket.
• should use the ear opposite the
pacemaker to minimize potential
interference.
If you have any reason to suspect that
interference is taking place, switch off your
phone immediately.
Hearing aids
Some digital wireless phones may interfere
with some hearing aids. In the event of such
interference, you may wish to consult your
hearing aid manufacturer to discuss
alternatives.
Other medical devices
If you use any other personal medical
devices, consult the manufacturer of your
device to determine if it is adequately
shielded from external RF energy. Your
physician may be able to assist you in
obtaining this information. Switch off your
phone in health care facilities when any
regulations posted in these areas instruct
you to do so. Hospitals or health care
facilities may be using equipment that could
be sensitive to external RF energy.
Health and safety information
Vehicles
RF signals may affect improperly installed or
inadequately shielded electronic systems in
motor vehicles. Check with the
manufacturer or its representative regarding
your vehicle. You should also consult the
manufacturer of any equipment that has
been added to your vehicle. You should also
consult the manufacturer of any equipment
that has been added to your vehicle.
Posted facilities
Switch off your phone in any facility where
posted notices require you to do so.
Potentially explosive environments
Switch off your phone when in any area with
a potentially explosive atmosphere and obey
all signs and instructions. Sparks in such
areas could cause an explosion or fire
resulting in bodily injury or even death.
Users are advised to switch off the phone
while at a refueling point (service station).
Users are reminded of the need to observe
restrictions on the use of radio equipment in
fuel depots (fuel storage and distribution
areas), chemical plants or where blasting
operations are in progress.
Areas with a potentially explosive
atmosphere are often but not always clearly
marked. They include the areas below deck
on boats, chemical transfer or storage
facilities, vehicles using liquefied petroleum
gas (such as propane or butane), areas
where the air contains chemicals or
particles, such as grain, dust or metal
powders, and any other area where you
would normally be advised to turn off your
vehicle engine.
Health and safety information
Emergency calls
This phone, like any wireless phone,
operates using radio signals, wireless and
landline networks as well as user-
programmed functions, which cannot
guarantee connection in all conditions.
Therefore, you should never rely solely on
any wireless phone for essential
communications (medical emergencies, for
example).
Remember, to make or receive any calls the
phone must be switched on and in a service
area with adequate signal strength.
Emergency calls may not be possible on all
wireless phone networks or when certain
network services and/or phone features are
in use. Check with local service providers.
To make an emergency call:
If the phone is not on, switch it on.
1.
Key in the emergency number for your
present location (for example, 911 or
other official emergency number).
Emergency numbers vary by location.
2.
Press [ ].
Health and safety information
If certain features are in use (call barring,
for example), you may first need to
deactivate those features before you can
make an emergency call. Consult this
document and your local cellular service
provider.
When making an emergency call, remember
to give all the necessary information as
accurately as possible. Remember that your
phone may be the only means of
communication at the scene of an accident;
do not end the call until given permission to
do so.
Other important safety information
• Only qualified personnel should service
the phone or install the phone in a
vehicle. Faulty installation or service may
be dangerous and may invalidate any
warranty applicable to the device.
• Check regularly that all wireless phone
equipment in your vehicle is mounted
and operating properly.
• Do not store or carry flammable liquids,
gases, or explosive materials in the same
compartment as the phone, its parts or
accessories.
• For vehicles equipped with an air bag,
remember that an air bag inflates with
great force. Do not place objects,
including both installed or portable
wireless equipment in the area over the
air bag or in the air bag deployment
area. If wireless equipment is improperly
installed and the air bag inflates, serious
injury could result.
Health and safety information
• Switch off your phone before boarding an
aircraft. The use of wireless phones in
aircraft is illegal and may be dangerous
to the aircraft’s operation.
• Failure to observe these instructions may
lead to the suspension or denial of
telephone services to the offender, or
legal action, or both.
Care and maintenance
Your phone is a product of superior design
and craftsmanship and should be treated
with care. The suggestions below will help
you fulfill any warranty obligations and allow
you to enjoy this product for many years:
• Keep the phone and all its parts and
accessories out of the reach of small
children’s.
• Keep the phone dry. Precipitation,
humidity and liquids contain minerals
that will corrode electronic circuits.
• Do not use the phone with a wet hand.
Doing so may cause an electric shock to
you or damage to the phone.
• Do not use or store the phone in dusty,
dirty areas, as its moving parts may be
damaged.
• Do not store the phone in hot areas.
High temperatures can shorten the life of
electronic devices, damage batteries,
and warp or melt certain plastics.
• Do not store the phone in cold areas.
When the phone warms up to its normal
operating temperature, moisture can
form inside the phone, which may
Health and safety information
damage the phone’s electronic circuit
boards.
• Do not drop, knock or shake the phone.
Rough handling can break internal circuit
boards.
• Do not use harsh chemicals, cleaning
solvents or strong detergents to clean
the phone. Wipe it with a soft cloth
slightly dampened in a mild soap-and-
water solution.
• Do not paint the phone. Paint can clog
the device’s moving parts and prevent
proper operation.
• Do not put the phone in or on heating
devices, such as a microwave oven, a
stove or a radiator. The phone may
explode when overheated.
• Use only the supplied or an approved
replacement antenna. Unauthorized
antennas or modified accessories may
damage the phone and violate
regulations governing radio devices.
• If the phone, battery, charger or any
accessory is not working properly, take it
to your nearest qualified service facility.
The personnel there will assist you, and
if necessary, arrange for service.
Health and safety information
Acknowledging Special
Precautions and the FCC and
Industry Canada Notice
FCC Notice
• This device complies with Part 15 of FCC
Rules. Operation is subject to the
following two conditions: (1)This device
may not cause harmful interference, and
(2)This device must accept any
interference received,including
interference that may cause undesired
operation.
• This equipment has been tested and
found to comply with the limits for a
Class B digital device, pursuant to part
15 of the FCC Rules. These limits are
designed to provide reasonable
protection against harmful interference
in a residential installation. This
equipment generates, uses and can
radiate radio frequency energy and, if
not installed and used in accordance with
the instructions, may cause harmful
interference to radio communications.
However, there is no guarantee that
interference will not occur in a particular
installation. If this equipment does cause
harmful interference to radio or
television reception, which can be
determined by turning the equipment off
and on, the user is encouraged to try to
correct the interference by one or more
of the following measures:
- Reorient or relocate the receiving
antenna.
- Increase the separation between the
equipment and receiver.
Health and safety information
- Connect the equipment into an outlet
on a circuit different from that to which the
receiver is connected.
- Consult the dealer or an experienced
radio/ TV technician for help.
The phone may cause TV or radio
interference if used in close proximity to
receiving equipment. The FCC can require
you to stop using the phone if such
interference cannot be eliminated. Vehicles
using liquefied petroleum gas (such as
propane or butane) must comply with the
National Fire Protection Standard (NFPA-58).
For a copy of this standard, contact the
National Fire Protection Association, One
Battery march Park, Quincy, MA 02269,
Attn: Publication Sales Division.
Cautions
Changes or modifications made in the radio
phone, not expressly approved by Samsung,
will void the user’s authority to operate the
equipment.
Only use approved batteries, antennas and
chargers. The use of any unauthorized
accessories may be dangerous and void the
phone warranty if said accessories cause
damage or a defect to the phone.
Although your phone is quite sturdy, it is a
complex piece of equipment and can be
broken. Avoid dropping, hitting, bending or
sitting on it.
Health and safety information
Appendix A: CERTIFICATION
INFORMATION (SAR)
THIS MODEL PHONE MEETS THE
GOVERNMENT’S REQUIREMENTS FOR
EXPOSURE TO RADIO WAVES.
Your wireless phone is a radio transmitter
and receiver. It is designed and
manufactured not to exceed the emission
limits for exposure to radio frequency (RF)
energy set by the Federal Communications
Commission of the U.S. Government. These
limits are part of comprehensive guidelines
and establish permitted levels of RF energy
for the general population. The guidelines
are based on safety standards that were
developed by independent scientific
organizations through periodic and thorough
evaluation of scientific studies. The
standards include a substantial safety
margin designed to assure the safety of all
persons, regardless of age and health.
The exposure standard for wireless mobile
phones employs a unit of measurement
known as the Specific Absorption Rate
(SAR). The SAR limit set by the FCC is 1.6
W/kg. SAR Tests are conducted using
standard operating positions accepted by
the FCC with the phone transmitting at its
highest certified power level in all tested
frequency bands. Although the SAR is
determined at the highest certified power
level, the actual SAR level of the phone while
operating can be well below the maximum
value. This is because the phone is designed
to operate at multiple power levels so as to
Health and safety information
use only the power required to reach the
network. In general, the closer you are to a
wireless base station antenna, the lower the
power output.
Before a new model phone is available for
sale to the public, it must be tested and
certified to the FCC that it does not exceed
the limit established by the government
adopted requirement for safe exposure. The
tests are performed in positions and
locations(e.g., at the ear and worn on the
body) as required by the FCC for each
model.
The highest SAR values of this model phone
-
GSM850 Head: 0.919 W/kg, Body-worn:1.11
W/kg,
- GSM1900 Head: 0.611 W/kg, Body-worn:
0.551W/kg
Body-worn operations are restricted to
Samsung-supplied, approved or none
Samsung designated accessories that have
no metal and must provide at least 1.5cm
separation between the device, including its
antenna whether extended or retracted, and
the user’s body. None compliance to the
above restrictions may violate FCC RF
exposure guidelines.
The FCC has granted an Equipment
Authorization for this model phone with all
reported SAR levels evaluated as in
compliance with the FCC RF exposure
guidelines. SAR information on this model
phone is on file with the FCC and can be
found under the Display Grant section of
http://www.fcc.gov/oet/fccid after searching
on FCC ID A3LSGHM130L
Health and safety information
Appendix B: Guide to Safe and
Responsible Wireless Phone
Use
Cellular Telecommunications & Internet
Association “Safety is the most important
call you will ever make.”
A Guide to Safe and Responsible
Wireless Phone Use
TENS OF MILLIONS OF PEOPLE IN THE U.S.
TODAY TAKE ADVANTAGE OF THE UNIQUE
COMBINATION OF CONVENIENCE, SAFETY
AND VALUE DELIVERED BY THE WIRELESS
TELEPHONE. QUITE SIMPLY, THE WIRELESS
PHONE GIVES PEOPLE THE POWERFUL
ABILITY TO COMMUNICATE BY VOICE-
ALMOST ANYWHERE, ANYTIME-WITH THE
BOSS, WITH A CLIENT, WITH THE KIDS,
WITH EMERGENCY PERSONNEL OR EVEN
WITH THE POLICE. EACH YEAR, AMERICANS
MAKE BILLIONS OF CALLS FROM THEIR
WIRELESS PHONES, AND THE NUMBERS
ARE RAPIDLY GROWING.
But an important responsibility accompanies
those benefits, one that every wireless
phone user must uphold. When driving a car,
driving is your first responsibility. A wireless
phone can be an invaluable tool, but good
judgment must be exercised at all times
1. In the United States and Canada, the SAR limit
for mobile phones used by the public is 1.6 watts/
kilogram (W/kg) averaged over one gram of tis-
sue. The standard incorporates a substantial ma
gin of safety togive additional protection for the
public and to account for any variations in mea-
surements.
Health and safety information
while driving a motor vehicle whether on the
phone or not.
The basic lessons are ones we all learned as
teenagers. Driving requires alertness,
caution and courtesy. It requires a heavy
dose of basic common sense-keep your head
up, keep your eyes on the road, check your
mirrors frequently and watch out for other
drivers.
It requires obeying all traffic signs and
signals and staying within the speed limit. It
means using seat belts and requiring other
passengers to do the same.
But with wireless phone use, driving safely
means a little more. This brochure is a call
to wireless phone users everywhere to make
safety their first priority when behind the
wheel of a car. Wireless telecommunications
is keeping us in touch, simplifying our lives,
protecting us in emergencies and providing
opportunities to help others in need. When it
comes to the use of wireless phones, safety
is your most important call.
Wireless Phone “Safety Tips”
Below are safety tips to follow while driving
and using a wireless phone which should be
easy to remember:
1.
Get to know your wireless phone and its
features such as speed dial and redial.
Carefully read your instruction manual
and learn to take advantage of valuable
features most phones offer, including
automatic redial and memory. Also, work
to memorize the phone keypad so you
can use the speed dial function without
taking your attention off the road.
Health and safety information
2.
When available, use a hands free device.
A number of hands free wireless phone
accessories are readily available today.
Whether you choose an installed
mounted device for your wireless phone
or a speaker phone accessory, take
advantage of these devices if available to
you.
3.
Position your wireless phone within easy
reach. Make sure you place your wireless
phone within easy reach and where you
can grab it without removing your eyes
from the road. If you get an incoming
call at an inconvenient time, if possible,
let your voice mail answer it for you.
4.
Suspend conversations during hazardous
driving conditions or situations. Let the
person you are speaking with know you
are driving; if necessary, suspend the
call in heavy traffic or hazardous weather
conditions. Rain, sleet, snow and ice can
be hazardous, but so is heavy traffic. As
a driver, your first responsibility is to pay
attention to the road.
5.
Do not take notes or look up phone
numbers while driving. If you are reading
an address book or business card, or
writing a “to do” list while driving a car,
you are not watching where you are
going. It’s common sense. Don’t get
caught in a dangerous situation because
you are reading or writing and not
paying attention to the road or nearby
vehicles.
6.
Dial sensibly and assess the traffic; if
possible, place calls when you are not
Health and safety information
moving or before pulling into traffic. Try
to plan your calls before you begin your
trip or attempt to coincide your calls with
times you may be stopped at a stop sign,
red light or otherwise stationary. But if
you need to dial while driving, follow this
simple tip-dial only a few numbers,
check the road and your mirrors, then
continue.
7.
Do not engage in stressful or emotional
conversations that may be distracting.
Stressful or emotional conversations and
driving do not mix-they are distracting
and even dangerous when you are
behind the wheel of a car. Make people
you are talking with aware you are
driving and if necessary, suspend
conversations which have the potential
to divert your attention from the road.
8.
Use your wireless phone to call for help.
Your wireless phone is one of the
greatest tools you can own to protect
yourself and your family in dangerous
situations-with your phone at your side,
help is only three numbers away. Dial 9-
1-1 or other local emergency number in
the case of fire, traffic accident, road
hazard or medical emergency.
Remember, it is a free call on your
wireless phone!
9.
Use your wireless phone to help others in
emergencies. Your wireless phone
provides you a perfect opportunity to be
a “Good Samaritan” in your community.
If you see an auto accident, crime in
progress or other serious emergency
where lives are in danger, call 9-1-1 or
other local emergency number, as you
would want others to do for you.
Health and safety information
10.
Call roadside assistance or a special
wireless non emergency assistance
number when necessary. Certain
situations you encounter while driving
may require attention, but are not
urgent enough to merit a call for
emergency services. But you still can
use your wireless phone to lend a hand.
If you see a broken-down vehicle posing
no serious hazard, a broken traffic
signal, a minor traffic accident where no
one appears injured or a vehicle you
know to be stolen, call roadside
assistance or other special non-
emergency wireless number.
Careless, distracted individuals and people
driving irresponsibly represent a hazard to
everyone on the road. Since 1984, the
Cellular Telecommunications Industry
Association and the wireless industry have
conducted educational outreach to inform
wireless phone users of their responsibilities
as safe drivers and good citizens. As we
approach a new century, more and more of
us will take advantage of the benefits of
wireless telephones.
And, as we take to the roads, we all have a
responsibility to drive safely.
“The wireless industry reminds you to use
your phone safely when driving.”
Cellular Telecommunications & Internet
Association For more information, please call
1-888-901-SAFE.
For updates: http://www.wow-com.com/
consumer/issues/driving/articles.cfm?ID
=85
Health and safety information
Appendix C: Consumer Update
on Wireless Phones
U.S. Food and Drug Administration
1.
What kinds of phones are the subject of
this update?
The term wireless phone refers here to
hand-held wireless phones with built-in
antennas, often called cell, mobile, or PCS
phones. These types of wireless phones can
expose the user to measurable radio
frequency energy (RF) because of the short
distance between the phone and the user s
head. These RF exposures are limited by
Federal Communications Commission safety
guidelines that were developed with the
advice of FDA and other federal health and
safety agencies. When the phone is located
at greater distances from the user, the
exposure to RF is drastically lower because a
person’s RF exposure decreases rapidly with
increasing distance from the source. The so-
called “cordless phones,” which have a base
unit connected to the telephone wiring in a
house, typically operate at far lower power
levels, and thus produce RF exposures well
within the FCC’s compliance limits.
2.
Do wireless phones pose a health
hazard?
The available scientific evidence does not
show that any health problems are
associated with using wireless phones. There
is no proof, however, that wireless phones
are absolutely safe. Wireless phones emit
low levels of radio frequency energy (RF) in
the microwave range while being used. They
Health and safety information
also emit very low levels of RF when in the
stand-by mode. Whereas high levels of RF
can produce health effects (by heating
tissue), exposure to low level RF that does
not produce heating effects causes no
known adverse health effects. Many studies
of low level RF exposures have not found
any biological effects. Some studies have
suggested that some biological effects may
occur, but such findings have not been
confirmed by additional research. In some
cases, other researchers have had difficulty
in reproducing those studies, or in
determining the reasons for inconsistent
results.
3.
What is FDA’s role concerning the safety
of wireless phones?
Under the law, FDA does not review the
safety of radiation emitting consumer
products such as wireless phones before
they can be sold, as it does with new drugs
or medical devices. However, the agency has
authority to take action if wireless phones
are shown to emit radio frequency energy
(RF) at a level that is hazardous to the user.
In such a case, FDA could require the
manufacturers of wireless phones to notify
users of the health hazard and to repair,
replace or recall the phones so that the
hazard no longer exists.
Although the existing scientific data do not
justify FDA regulatory actions, FDA has
Health and safety information
urged the wireless phone industry to take a
number of steps, including the following:
• Support needed research into possible
biological effects of RF of the type
emitted by wireless phones;
• Design wireless phones in a way that
minimizes any RF exposure to the user
that is not necessary for device function;
and
• Cooperate in providing users of wireless
phones with the best possible
information on possible effects of
wireless phone use on human health
FDA belongs to an interagency working
group of the federal agencies that have
responsibility for different aspects of RF
safety to ensure coordinated efforts at the
federal level. The following agencies belong
to this working group:
• National Institute for Occupational Safety
and Health
• Environmental Protection Agency Federal
Communications Commission
• Occupational Safety and Health
Administration
• National Telecommunications and
Information Administration
• The National Institutes of Health
participates in some interagency working
group activities, as well. FDA shares
regulatory responsibilities for wireless
phones with the Federal Communications
Commission (FCC). All phones that are
sold in the United States must comply
Health and safety information
with FCC safety guidelines that limit RF
exposure. FCC relies on FDA and other
health agencies for safety questions
about wireless phones.
FCC also regulates the base stations that the
wireless phone networks rely upon. While
these base stations operate at higher power
than do the wireless phones themselves, the
RF exposures that people get from these
base stations are typically thousands of
times lower than those they can get from
wireless phones. Base stations are thus not
the primary subject of the safety questions
discussed in this document.
4.
What is FDA doing to find out more about
the possible health effects of wireless
phone RF?
FDA is working with the U.S. National
Toxicology Program and with groups of
investigators around the world to ensure
that high priority animal studies are
conducted to address important questions
about the effects of exposure to radio
frequency energy (RF).
FDA has been a leading participant in the
World Health Organization International
Electromagnetic Fields (EMF) Project since
its inception in 1996. An influential result of
this work has been the development of a
detailed agenda of research needs that has
driven the establishment of new research
programs around the world. The Project has
also helped develop a series of public
information documents on EMF issues.
Health and safety information
FDA and the Cellular Telecommunications &
Internet Association (CTIA) have a formal
Cooperative Research and Development
Agreement (CRADA) to do research on
wireless phone safety. FDA provides the
scientific oversight, obtaining input from
experts in government, industry, and
academic organizations. CTIA-funded
research is conducted through contracts to
independent investigators. The initial
research will include both laboratory studies
and studies of wireless phone users. The
CRADA will also include a broad assessment
of additional research needs in the context
of the latest research developments around
the world.
5.
What steps can I take to reduce my
exposure to radio frequency 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 radio frequency
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
Health and safety information
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.
6.
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
radio frequency 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.
Health and safety information
7.
Do hands-free kits for wireless phones
reduce risks from exposure to RF
emissions?
Since there are no known risks from
exposure to RF emissions from wireless
phones, there is no reason to believe that
hands-free kits reduce risks. Hands-free kits
can be used with wireless phones for
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”
Health and safety information
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 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
Health and safety information
test methods and performance requirements
for hearing aids and wireless phones so 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.
10.
What are the results of the research
done already?
The research done thus far has produced
conflicting results, and many studies have
suffered from flaws in their research
methods. Animal experiments investigating
the effects of radio frequency energy (RF)
exposures characteristic of wireless phones
have yielded conflicting results that often
cannot be repeated in other laboratories. A
few animal studies, however, have
suggested that low levels of RF could
accelerate the development of cancer in
laboratory animals. However, many of the
studies that showed increased tumor
development used animals that had been
genetically engineered or treated with
cancer causing chemicals so as to be pre-
disposed to develop cancer in the absence of
RF exposure. Other studies exposed the
animals to RF for up to 22 hours per day.
These conditions are not similar to the
conditions under which people use wireless
phones, so we don’t know with certainty
Health and safety information
what the results of such studies mean for
human health.
Three large epidemiology studies have been
published since December 2000. Between
them, the studies investigated any possible
association between the use of wireless
phones and primary brain cancer, gioma,
meningioma, or acoustic neuroma, tumors
of the brain or salivary gland, leukemia, or
other cancers. None of the studies
demonstrated the existence of any harmful
health effects from wireless phone RF
exposures. However, none of the studies can
answer questions about long-term
exposures, since the average period of
phone use in these studies was around three
years.
11. What research is needed to decide
whether RF exposure from wireless
phones poses a health risk?
A combination of laboratory studies and
epidemiological studies of people actually
using wireless phones would provide some
of the data that are needed. Lifetime animal
exposure studies could be completed in a
few years. However, very large numbers of
animals would be needed to provide reliable
proof of a cancer promoting effect if one
exists. Epidemiological studies can provide
data that is directly applicable to human
populations, but 10 or more years follow-up
may be needed to provide answers about
some health effects, such as cancer. This is
because the interval between the time of
exposure to a cancer-causing agent and the
Health and safety information
time tumors develop - if they do - may be
many, many years. The interpretation of
epidemiological studies is hampered by
difficulties in measuring actual RF exposure
during day-to-day use of wireless phones.
Many factors affect this measurement, such
as the angle at which the phone is held, or
which model of phone is used.
12.
Which other federal agencies have
responsibilities related to potential RF
health effects?
Additional information on the safety of RF
exposures from various sources can be
obtained from the following organizations.
FCC RF Safety Program:
http://www.fcc.gov/oet/rfsafety/
Environmental Protection Agency (EPA):
http://www.epa.gov/radiation/
Occupational Safety and Health
Administration’s (OSHA):
http://www.osha-slc.gov/SLTC/
radiofrequencyradiation/index.html
National Institute for Occupational Safety
and Health (NIOSH):
http://www.cdc.gov/niosh/emfpg.html
World health Organization (WHO):
http://www.who.int/peh-emf/
International Commission on Non-Ionizing
Radiation Protection:
http://www.icnirp.de
National Radiation Protection Board (UK):
http://www.nrpb.org.uk
Updated 4/3/2002: US Food and Drug Admin-
istration http://www.fda.gov/cellphones