FDA ’ s Shuren says cell phone RF exposure is safe in light of NTP animal study

The FDA today reiterated its view that radiofrequency energy exposure associated with cell phone use is safe in light of a new study from the National Toxicology Program, which indicated a carcinogenic effect in rats. The study, conducted by the National Institute of Health’s National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences, aimed to evaluate the the effects of high exposure radiofrequency at levels “considerably above the current safety limits for cell phones” to learn more about the effects of radiofrequency energy on animal tissue, according to FDA Center for Devices and Radiological Health Director Jeffrey Shuren. Shuren said that the topic of research had been nominated in 1999, at a time where there was a lack of epidemiological and long-term animal studies exploring the effect of RF energy from cellular phones. “Fortunately, since then, there have been hundreds of studies from which to draw a wealth of information about these technologies which have come to play an important role in our everyday lives. Taken together, all of this research provides a more complete picture regarding radiofrequency energy exposure that has informed the FDA’s assessment of this important public health issue, and given us the confidence that the current safety limits for cell phone radiation remain acceptable for protecting the public health,” Shuren said in a prepared statement. Results from the study indicated that the male rats which showed carcinog...
Source: Mass Device - Category: Medical Devices Authors: Tags: Clinical Trials Food & Drug Administration (FDA) Oncology Center for Devices and Radiological Health (CDRH) Source Type: news