One reason for concern is the fact that children who start using cell phones at a young age will inevitably be exposed for a longer period of time over their entire lifetime to cell phone radiation. But researchers are also concerned about the risk of cell phones with children, because children’s nervous systems are not fully developed. Also their brains contain more fluid than brains of adults, which allows for deeper penetration of radiation. And finally, children’s skulls are not as thick as those of adults.

The reality is that the head of a child is different in terms of density of the bone and the amount of fluid in the brain than that of an adult. And we know that the more fluid there is an object, the more deeply the radio signal can penetrate.

Because cell phones have only really been used widely since about the 1990s, research on long-term health effects is limited. But research on the effects on children is even scarcer. Still, there has been enough concern among public health officials in various parts of the world to warrant warnings.

A government regulatory body located in the home country of Nokia, the largest cell phone maker in the world, is urging parents to restrict cell phone use for children, suggesting parents encourage kids to text rather than talk. Although research to date, has not demonstrated health effects from mobile phone’s radiation, precaution is recommended for children as all of the effects are not known.

A report recommends minimizing any potential risk by using hands-free devices and keeping cell-phone talk to a minimum.

The wireless industry itself has resisted warnings or restrictions for its products. And it often points to research indicating that there is no link between cancer or other harmful health effects and cell phone use.

- By Neetu R. Singh