Health & Safety Information
You may have read or heard statements raising questions about whether or not there could be health effects associated with using wireless phones. At AT&T, we believe you should be informed – so we're offering the following information and references for additional information.
Like certain other devices that transmit radio signals, wireless phones emit low levels of radio frequency (RF) fields while operating. The Federal Communications Commission (FCC) has established standards for RF fields from wireless phones. Each phone that AT&T sells must comply with these FCC safety standards.
The FCC maintains a Web site about FCC wireless programs and policies, answering commonly asked questions about wireless telephones. It points out that "All wireless phones sold in the United States meet government requirements that limit their RF energy to safe levels." The Web site also provides the FCC's answers to questions about wireless phones.
For example, it includes the question: "Is there any evidence that cell phones cause cancer?" The FCC answers, "there is no scientific evidence that proves that wireless phone usage can lead to cancer or a variety of other problems…" For people who might be concerned about exposure to RF fields from wireless phones, the FCC lists a few simple steps they can take to reduce their exposure.
The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) also has a significant role concerning the safety of wireless phones. See the FDA Web site for more information. Under the topic "Health Issues" the FDA concludes that "the weight of scientific evidence has not linked cell phones with any health problems."
Some organizations and individuals have taken the contrary view that RF fields from wireless phones cause health risks. Some of their views are available in the following sources:
- "Cell Phones: Invisible Hazards in the Wireless Age," Dr. George Carlo and Martin Schram, Carroll & Graf Publishers, Inc., 2001.
- Powerwatch – http://www.powerwatch.org.uk
- The EMR Network – http://www.emrnetwork.org
AT&T does not agree with views expressed in the last three sources listed above, but we believe that you, our customers, have a right to know about them.
AT&T believes that the scientific data does not demonstrate that RF fields from wireless phones cause or contribute to adverse health effects. AT&T also believes that this issue should continue to be addressed by public health specialists and expert scientists.
