| 5 3 2002
The lawsuits charge that the defendants did not disclose in their ads that the majority of electromagnetic energy emitted by cellular and cordless phones comes from the antenna and parts of the phone other than the earpiece. The two companies also failed to tell consumers that their products have no effect on this electromagnetic energy, the FTC said.
Two companies that allegedly prey upon consumers' fears of radiation exposure through the use of cell phones have been taken to court by the Federal Trade Commission (FTC), which charged the firms with making false claims about their mobile phone safety shields.
According to the FTC, there is no scientific proof that the coin-sized metallic fiber patches placed over the earpieces of cellular and cordless telephones significantly reduce exposure from electromagnetic emissions.
In fact, the agency said, devices that block only the earpiece or another small portion of the phone are ineffective, because the entire phone emits electromagnetic waves.
Further, the FTC charged, the shields may interfere with the phone's signal, causing it to draw more power and emit even more radiation.
Investigation Widens
The FTC is looking into other companies making similar products, said
Serena Viswanathan, staff attorney for the agency, who added that the
number of such "shields" sold in the U.S. has not yet been
determined but will be introduced in the trials to be held in Florida and
California.
"The FTC is not taking a position on whether electromagnetic emission
from cell phones is dangerous to consumers, because more research needs to
be done before reaching a conclusion on the issue," Viswanathan told
Wireless NewsFactor.
"Our point is that consumers who are concerned about this should know
that the products made by the defendants do not work."
No Scientific Evidence
In the separate court actions filed against Stock Value 1 (SV1) and
Comstar Communications, the commission is seeking permanent injunctions
against the companies and refunds for consumers.
"These companies are using a shield of misrepresentation to block
consumers from the facts," said J. Howard Beales III, director of the
FTC's Bureau of Consumer Protection. "There is no scientific evidence
that their products work as they claim."
The FTC alleges that the companies falsely claimed their products, which
sold for US$20 to $25, could block up to 99 percent of radiation and other
electromagnetic energy emitted by cellular telephones.
Full Disclosure
Boca Raton, Florida-based SV1 has marketed its SafeTShield and NoDanger
products using claims such as "NoDanger is proven to protect the soft
tissue of the ear ducts by filtering out 99 percent of the electromagnetic
waves emitted from the ear piece of mobile phones up to a frequency of
2,000 MHz," the FTC reported.
West Sacramento, California-based Comstar sold its WaveShield product line
with ads contending that, "The WaveShield will block up to 99 percent
of the radiation entering the soft tissue of the ear canal."
The lawsuits charge that the defendants did not disclose in their ads that
the majority of electromagnetic energy emitted by cellular and cordless
phones comes from the antenna and parts of the phone other than the
earpiece.
The two companies also failed to tell consumers that their products have
no effect on this electromagnetic energy, the FTC said.
Phone Safety Debate
Both complaints allege that the defendants made false claims that their
products were scientifically proven and tested. The FTC said that there is
no scientific proof that the shields significantly reduce exposure from
electromagnetic emissions.
Scientists and health experts continue to debate a possible connection
between cell phone use and health hazards including brain cancer, with no
definitive link established thus far.
Most studies indicate that more research is necessary, and phone
manufacturers have been required to include labels stating the amount of
radiation emitted by their devices. Many phone makers also are now
providing free hands-free kits with new phone purchases.
To Do List
The FTC said it has issued guidelines for limiting exposure to
electromagnetic emissions by cell phones, including limiting phone use to
short conversations, increasing the distance between the antenna and the
head by using a hands-free set or a car phone with the antenna outside the
car and avoiding the use of cell phones where the signal is poor.
The evidence against SV1 and Comstar was sent to the FTC by the Good
Housekeeping Institute, which determined through testing that the products
did not reduce radiation exposure from cell phones. |
