I tried to explain that, in fact, he was misinformed and that his cell phone would not kill him. A recent government report backs me up. The General Accounting Office reported in May research shows that radio-frequency (RF) emissions from cell phones have no adverse health effects. There is not yet enough information to conclude that they pose no risk in the long term. This is not really news to the industry. Only a few studies have found any link between cell phone radiation and physiological changes to tissue, which is not the same as proving exposure is harmful.

Congressman Ed Markey (D-MA) and Sen. Joseph Lieberman (D-CT) recently discussed the report at a press conference. "It seems to me that our first responsibility is to educate consumers so that they can make fully informed decisions. Some consumers may wish to take precautions, such as using headsets. Others may conclude that the risk is negligible," Lieberman said.

"Any time health or safety concerns are raised about a product as widely used as cell phones, consumers naturally are going to be on high alert," he said. The cab driver was definitely on high alert.

One conclusion Markey and Lieberman drew was that neither the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) nor the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) adequately informs consumers. "The FCC provides information on radio-frequency exposure, but it is difficult to locate and harder to understand," said Lieberman. The senator and congressman have called on both agencies to develop a consumer Web site that combines health information, an explanation of radiation issues, and information about emissions for different phone models—in plain English.

The GAO report also describes problems with how cell phones are tested for emissions. Noting that testing procedures are not standardized, Lieberman said, "Those problems make me worry that the tests are so inaccurate as to render compliance difficult if not meaningless. The slight differences in testing procedures can cause significant discrepancies in results, and it's very hard to determine accurate exposure limits." A major concern is that research supported by the U.S. government represents only a small portion of worldwide research in this area, according to GAO.

The GAO report makes several recommendations to FCC. These include: upgrade its consumer information program to provide clear, consistent, and easily understood information about mobile-phone RF exposure issues; develop a plan to secure additional personnel skilled in RF exposure and testing issues; standardize testing procedures for specific absorption rate to reduce variations in test results, and consult with FDA about its method for incorporating measurement uncertainty in determining compliance with RF limits.