User's Guide

Table Of Contents
Safety
171
7. How can I find out how much Radio Frequency energy exposure I can
get by using my wireless device?
All devices sold in the United States must comply with Federal
Communications Commission (FCC) guidelines that limit Radio Frequency
(RF) energy exposures. The FCC established these guidelines in
consultation with the FDA and the other federal health and safety agencies.
The FCC limit for RF exposure from wireless devices is set at a Specific
Absorption Rate (SAR) of 1.6 watts per kilogram (1.6 W/kg). The FCC limit is
consistent with the safety standards developed by the Institute of Electrical
and Electronic Engineering (IEEE) and the National Council on Radiation
Protection and Measurement. The exposure limit takes into consideration
the body’s ability to remove heat from the tissues that absorb energy from
the wireless device and is set well below levels known to have effects.
Manufacturers of wireless devices must report the RF exposure level for
each model of device to the FCC. The FCC website (http://www.fcc.gov/oet/
rfsafety) gives directions for locating the FCC identification number on your
device so you can find your devices RF exposure level in the online listing.
8. What has the FDA done to measure the Radio Frequency energy
coming from wireless devices?
The Institute of Electrical and Electronic Engineers (IEEE) is developing a
technical standard for measuring the Radio Frequency (RF) energy exposure
from wireless devices and other wireless handsets with the participation
and leadership of FDA scientists and engineers. The standard,
“Recommended Practice for Determining the Spatial-Peak Specific
Absorption Rate (SAR) in the Human Body Due to Wireless
Communications Devices: Experimental Techniques,” sets forth the first
consistent test methodology for measuring the rate at which RF is
deposited in the heads of wireless device users. The test method uses a
tissue-simulating model of the human head.
Standardized SAR test methodology is expected to greatly improve the
consistency of measurements made at different laboratories on the same
device. SAR is the measurement of the amount of energy absorbed in
tissue, either by the whole body or a small part of the body. It is measured