of getting a particular form of cancer is greater among people 

who use mobile phones than among the rest of the population. 

One way to answer that question is to compare the usage of 

mobile phones among people with brain cancer with the use of 

mobile phones among appropriately matched people without 

brain cancer. This is called a case control study. The current 

case control study of brain cancers by the National Cancer 

Institute, as well as the follow up research to be sponsored by 

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industry, will begin to generate this type of information. 

dditi

What is FDA s role concerning the safety of 

on

mobile phones?

al H

Under the law, FDA does not review the safety of radiation 

eal

emitting consumer products such as mobile phones before 

th an

marketing, as it does with new drugs or medical devices. 

However, the agency has authority to take action if mobile 

d Sa

phones are shown to emit radiation at a level that is hazardous to 

f

the user. In such a case, FDA could require the manufacturers of 

ety I

mobile phones to notify users of the health hazard and to repair, 

n

replace or recall the phones so that the hazard no longer exists. 

form

Although the existing scientific data do not justify FDA regulatory 

ati

actions at this time, FDA has urged the mobile phone industry to 

on (FD

take a number of steps to assure public safety. The agency has 

recommended that the industry: 

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  support needed research into possible biological effects of 

)

RF of the type emitted by mobile phones; 

  design mobile phones in a way that minimizes any RF 

exposure to the user that is not necessary for device 

function; and 

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