Summary: 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.
