The International Agency for Research on Cancer, an arm of the World Health Organization, after a review of dozens of published studies have announced that cellphones are possible cancer-causing agents. The scientists involved have described mobile handsets as “possibly carcinogenic” to humans. They advise people to either use hands-free devices or to text when it is possible to avoid a phone call.

This announcement somewhat contradicts WHO’s previous position that there was no apparent evidence for a link between cancer and cell phone usage. Now, however, the WHO working group says radiofrequency electromagnetic fields like the ones employed by mobile phones heighten the chances of suffering glioma, a malignant form of brain cancer.

There have been a number of studies in past years that have shown that there is a link between mobile phone use and the development of cancer.

In 2009, a study by the IARC published in the Journal of Clinical Oncology showed that there was an 18% increase in brain tumour risk in people who used mobile phones, compared to those that do not. These tumours tended to appear on the side of the head that the mobile phone was most used.

Personally, in clinical practice I have seen an astrocytoma and a rarer rhabdomyosarcoma – both on the side of the head where these two young 24 and 23 year olds respectively used their mobile phones for over 2 hours daily.

Another report issued in 2010 by the International Electromagnetic Field Cooperative (IEFC) and endorsed by 13 scientists from 23 countries, also found a link between mobile phone usage and increased rates of brain tumors. Included in this report is a Swedish study that found a 420 percent increase in brain cancer rates among children who began using mobile and cordless phones as teenagers, as opposed to those that did not.

A Swedish team of scientists in this study found a 420 percent higher risk of brain cancer among people who had started using cellular or cordless phones as teenagers.

The report recommended that children under the age of 18 should only use mobile phones in emergency situations – it recommends using corded land lines whenever possible, and using cellular phones mostly as answering machines, turning them on only to check messages and return calls.

Using mobile phones inside buildings greatly increases the radiation emitted to the base station. Also, the report advises against carrying cell phones against the body, even in pockets.

"Some countries are already banning cell phones over health concerns, with France saying children in elementary schools can only use them for texting," Morgan said.

It is advisable to use your mobile phone as little as possible; use text messages more and talk less and do not carry your mobile phone on your person.