CALIFORNIA PROPOSITION 65

WARNING: This product contains a chemical known to the State of California to cause cancer and birth defects or other reproductive harm.

This warning is provided pursuant to California Proposition 65 which requires businesses to provide a consumer notice for exposing consumers to one or more of the Prop 65 listed chemicals.

About California Proposition 65 (source oehha.ca.gov)

In 1986, California voters approved an initiative to address their growing concerns about exposure to toxic chemicals. That initiative became the Safe Drinking Water and Toxic Enforcement Act of 1986, better known by its original name of Proposition 65. Proposition 65 requires the State to publish a list of chemicals known to cause cancer or birth defects or other reproductive harm. This list, which must be updated at least once a year, has grown to include approximately 800 chemicals since it was first published in 1987.

Proposition 65 requires businesses to notify Californians about significant amounts of chemicals in the products they purchase, in their homes or workplaces, or that are released into the environment. By providing this information, Proposition 65 enables Californians to make informed decisions about protecting themselves from exposure to these chemicals. Proposition 65 also prohibits California businesses from knowingly discharging significant amounts of listed chemicals into sources of drinking water.

The Office of Environmental Health Hazard Assessment (OEHHA) administers the Proposition 65 program. OEHHA, which is part of the California Environmental Protection Agency (Cal/EPA), also evaluates all currently available scientific information on substances considered for placement on the Proposition 65 list.

For more info, please visit http://oehha.ca.gov/proposition-65/general-info/proposition-65-plain-language

SPECIFIC ABSORPTION RATE (SAR)

The radio frequency (RF) exposure standard for wireless devices employs a unit of measurement known as the Specific Absorption Rate (or SAR) which is a measure of the amount of radio frequency energy absorbed by the body when using a wireless device (e.g. mobile phones). The SAR limit adopted by the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) and Industry Canada (IC) is 1.6 W/kg averaged over 1 gram of body tissue.

SAR tests are conducted using standard operating positions with the wireless devices transmitting at its highest certified power level in all tested frequency bands. While there may be differences between the SAR levels of various wireless devices and at various positions, they all meet the government requirement for RF exposure.

For body-worn operation, the mobile phone meets FCC RF exposure guidelines provided that it is used with a non-metallic accessory with the headset at least 10 mm from the body. Use of other accessories may not ensure compliance with FCC RF exposure guidelines.

More information on SAR can be found on FCC website, https://www.fcc.gov/consumers/guides/specific-absorption-rate-sar-cell-phones-what-it-means-you

HEARING AID COMPLIANCE FOR MOBILE PHONES (HAC) RATING

When some mobile phones are used near some hearing devices (hearing aids and cochlear implants), user may detect a buzzing, humming, or whining noise. Some hearing devices are more sensitive than others to this interference noise, and phones also vary in the amount of interference they generate.

The wireless telephone industry has developed ratings for some of their mobile phones to assist hearing device users in finding phones that may be compatible with their hearing devices. Not all phones have been rated. Phones that are rated have the rating on their box or a label on the box.

The ratings are not guarantees. Results will vary depending on the user’s hearing device and hearing loss. If your hearing device happens to be vulnerable to interference, you may not be able to use a rated phone successfully. Trying out the phone with your hearing device is the best way to evaluate it for your personal needs.

M-Ratings: Phones rated M3 or M4 meet FCC requirements and are likely to generate less interference to hearing devices than phones that are not labeled. M4 is the better/higher of the two ratings.

T-Ratings: Phones rated t3 or T4 meet FCC requirements and are likely to be more usable with a hearing device’s telecoil (“T Switch” or “Telephone Switch”) than unrated phones. T4 is the better/higher of the two ratings. (Note that not all hearing devices have telecoils in them.).

Hearing devices may also be measured for immunity to this type of interference. Your hearing device manufacturer or hearing health professional may help you find results for your hearing device. The more immune your hearing aid is, the less likely you are to experience interference noise from mobile phones.

For more information please visit:  https://www.fcc.gov/hearing-aid-compatibility-wireless-telephones