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For Your Safety
FDA Consumer Update
The U.S. Food and Drug Administration’s Center for Devices and Radiological
Health Consumer Update on Mobile Tablets:
1. Do tablets pose a health hazard?
The available scientific evidence does not show that any health problems are associated
with using tablets.
There is no proof, however, that tablets are absolutely safe. Tablets emit low levels of Radio
Frequency (RF) energy in the microwave range while being used. They also emit very low
levels of RF when in idle mode. Whereas high levels of RF can produce health effects (by
heating tissue), exposure to low level RF that does not produce heating effects causes no
known adverse health effects. Many studies of low level RF exposures have not found any
biological effects. Some studies have suggested that some biological effects may occur,
but such findings have not been confirmed by additional research. In some cases, other
researchers have had difficulty in reproducing those studies, or in determining the reasons
for inconsistent results.
2. What is the FDA’s role concerning the safety of tablets?
Under the law, the FDA does not review the safety of radiation-emitting consumer products
such as tablets before they can be sold, as it does with new drugs or medical devices.
However, the agency has authority to take action if tablets are shown to emit Radio
Frequency (RF) energy at a level that is hazardous to the user. In such a case, the FDA could
require the manufacturers of tablets to notify users of the health hazard and to repair,
replace, or recall the tablets so that the hazard no longer exists.
Although the existing scientific data does not justify FDA regulatory actions, the FDA has
urged the tablet industry to take a number of steps, including the following: