The U.S. Food and Drug 

Administration s Center for Devices 

and Radiological Health Consumer 

Update on Mobile Phones

Additional Health and Safety Information

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 radio frequency energy (i.e., 

radio frequency radiation) in the microwave range while being 

used. They also emit very low levels of radio frequency energy 

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

is well known that high levels of RF can produce biological 

damage through heating effects (this is how your microwave 

oven is able 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 any adverse health effects associated with the use 

of mobile phones.

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