Photo by moriza (flickr.com/photos/moriza) A police officer stops to send a text message from his cellphone. image:39830:8::0

New Delhi: Having undertaken a first of its kind study on the ill effects of overuse of mobile phones, the Indian government has asked service providers and makers to avoid promotional advertisements showing vulnerable segments like children and pregnant women using cellphones.

The electromagnetic waves emitted from mobile phones can seriously damage brain tissues of users, according to draft guidelines drawn up by the ministry of telecommunication. The draft suggests measures like limited use of mobile phones by children, pregnant women and people suffering from heart ailments.

In India the growth of mobile phones is very high and may cross 500 million by the end of the year, 2010 - a large chunk of its users being children. An increasing number of parents are providing cellphones to the pre-teen or teenage children to keep track of their whereabouts during the day and to remain constantly connected to them.

The guidelines say that mobile phones and radio terminals radiate radio frequency energy that heats up tissues which may be possibly harmful to human health. During use, cellphones are usually kept close to the ear, which allows the energy to reach the brain, giving rise to fears that continuous use for long duration may damage brain tissue.

The report advises people to use hands-free, if long use is unavoidable. It also recommends that children below sixteen be discouraged from using mobile phones as their tissues are tender and likely to be affected more. The report also cautions use of mobile phones/radio terminals by those using medical aids such as hearing aids, pacemakers, defibrillators and other implants; they should also minimize the time they spend on cellphones.

The use of mobile phones/radio terminals in vulnerable areas of hospitals such as the intensive care unit should be prohibited/restricted as decided by the hospital authority, the draft says.