Report: Children should limit cell phone use

LONDON, Jan. 11 (UPI) -- A British scientist warns parents children should only use cell phones when necessary because of potential health risks.

William Stewart of the National Radiological Protection Board says there is no proof cell phones are unsafe, but precautionary steps should be taken and if cell phones are eventually found to damage health, then children would be at greatest risk, the BBC reported Tuesday.

In Britain, one in four 7- to 10-year-olds own a cell phone -- double the levels in 2001, according to latest figures.

"If there are risks -- and we think that maybe there are -- then the people who are going to be most affected are children, and the younger the children, the greater the danger," Williams told BBC Radio Four "Today" program. "Parents have a responsibility to their children not simply to throw a mobile (cell) phone to a young child, and say 'off you go.'"

Williams said it would be wrong to allow children under 8 years old to use cell phones regularly.