A recent study carried out by scientists in Finland suggested radiation from mobile phone causes changes in the brain. This is the first time that researchers have looked at the effects of mobile phone on human cells rather than those of rats. It is also alarming that use of mobile phones by our youngsters has increased sharply in the last few years. Although evidence that radiation poses a health risk is inconclusive, researchers have raised concerns about the possibility of a link with headaches, memory loss, irregular brain activity and brain cancer. As well scientists cannot dismiss possible links with other illnesses such as eye cancer and leukemia. It became sensational news that a 34-year-old US brain tumour victim issued a writ to a mobile telephone company for £600m damages.

Noise exposed trauma causing nerve deafness occurs more easily in children. Since a child's ear drum is more susceptible and the mobile is closer to the head, more radiation can damage a child's ear. Through the ear this harmful radiation can go to the brain. Youngsters absorb up to 50 percent more radiation in their brains than adults when they use mobile phones, another research has revealed. Radiation penetrates halfway through the brain of a five-year-old. The penetration falls to 30 percent for a 10-year-old, compared with just a small area around the ear in an adult. This research was carried out at the University of Utah. Some results suggest international safety tests used to measure the absorption of radiation are inadequate and should be changed to take account of the size and thickness of a child's skull. In fact before all these above results, German parents have been urged to stop children using mobile phones over radiation fears. In 2000, a high-level panel appointed by the U.K. government recommended that children be discouraged from using mobile phones and that the mobile phone industry not market to children. In May 2001 the British Medical Association produced a report called "Mobile Phones and Health" which included this statement:

"...since the handset is normally held near to waist level for this activity, research is necessary into whether mobile phone radiation may effect different parts of the body in different ways, and hence whether there are any additional possible health risks associated with text messaging."

It's now predicted that by 2005 a quarter of the world's population will own a cellular phone. It may be true that millions of people are getting benefits from this modern cellular technology; but most users are unaware that they are getting exposed to invisible non-ionized radiation that invites multiple health hazards. Unfortunately we have no specific figures for the number of mobile phones owned by different age categories in Bangladesh. Ministry of Health should issue warnings that users under 16 should limit calls to essential purposes and keep them as short as possible. Our government can also urge mobile phone companies and importers not to target children in advertising and to print the radiation level on the handset. Also the Ministry of Environment can print 'mobile phone safety leaflets' for distribution in offices, educational institutes, markets and mobile phone shops. Keep calling but call safely.