Telecommunications

Status of Research on the Safety of Cellular Telephones Gao ID: RCED-95-32 November 4, 1994

On the basis of present scientific knowledge, federal agencies have no reason to take regulatory action on the use of portable cellular telephones because no research has been completed on long-term human exposure to the low levels of radiation generated by these phones and research findings on exposure to other sources of low-level radio-frequency radiation are inconclusive. According to the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) and the National Science Foundation, both epidemiological and laboratory studies are needed to determine any link between cellular telephone use and human diseases. The cellular telecommunications industry plans to do both types of studies. If federal regulators want to use this research, they need assurances that it will be carried out objectively. FDA is working with cellular telephone manufacturers on the possibility of redesigning portable cellular telephone and on providing users with instruction for proper use. The Federal Communications Commission has proposed revising standards set by the American National Standards Institute for radio-frequency radiation; this standard may be applied to cellular telephones.

GAO found that: (1) no research has been completed on long-term human exposure to low levels of radiation from portable cellular telephones, and research findings on exposure to other sources of low-level radio-frequency radiation are inconclusive; (2) existing research does not provide enough evidence to determine whether portable cellular telephones pose a risk to human health; (3) although the cellular telecommunications industry is planning to carry out both epidemiological and laboratory studies on the effects of portable cellular telephone use on human health, federal regulators need to ensure that these studies are carried out objectively; (4) the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) is working with cellular telephone manufacturers to minimize cellular telephone users' exposure to radiation; (5) the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is assessing the status of scientific knowledge on prolonged exposure to radio-frequency radiation; and (6) the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) has relied on a 1982 American National Standards Institute (ANSI) safety standard to regulate cellular telephones, but is considering adopting the revised version of the ANSI standard for equipment it approves for use.

Recommendations

Our recommendations from this work are listed below with a Contact for more information. Status will change from "In process" to "Open," "Closed - implemented," or "Closed - not implemented" based on our follow up work.

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