Additional Health and 

Safety Information (FDA)

The U.S. Food and Drug 

Administration s Center for 

Devices and Radiological 

Health Consumer Update on 

Mobile Phones

(FDA)

FDA has been receiving inquiries about the safety of mobile 

phones, including cellular phones and PCS phones. The 

following summarizes what is known  and what remains 

unknown  about whether these products can pose a hazard to 

health, and what can be done to minimize any potential risk. This 

information may be used to respond to questions. 

Why the concern?

Mobile phones emit low levels of radiofrequency energy (i.e., 

radiofrequency radiation) in the microwave range while being 

ealth and Safety Information H

used. They also emit very low levels of radiofrequency energy 

(RF), considered non significant, when in the stand by mode. It is 

tional 

well known that high levels of RF can produce biological damage 

di

through heating effects (this is how your microwave oven is able 

dA

to cook food). However, it is not known whether, to what extent, 

or through what mechanism, lower levels of RF might cause 

adverse health effects as well. Although some research has been 

done to address these questions, no clear picture of the 

biological effects of this type of radiation has emerged to date. 

Thus, the available science does not allow us to conclude that 

mobile phones are absolutely safe, or that they are unsafe. 

However, the available scientific evidence does not demonstrate 

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