For many years, studies have tried to warn about the repercussions of cell phone use on our health. Scientists have linked the use of mobile phones to a higher risk of brain tumor or salivary gland cancer, of giving birth to children with behavioral problems or in men’s case, of having their sperm cells harmed, thus decreasing their chances of becoming fathers.

Moreover, a study appeared at the end of March this year by one of the world’s top neurosurgeons, Vini Khurana , concluded that using mobile phones for 10 years could double the risk of brain cancer. He went even further and said the danger coming from using mobile phones “has broader public-health ramifications than asbestos and smoking,” he said at the time.

However, Dr. Khurana’s study ended, like many other studies on cell phone use as well, by being contested by cell phone makers for fear sales would have to suffer from his conclusions, which, by the way, were considered by the Mobile Operators Association just “a selective discussion of scientific literature by one individual.”

Now it’s the time for another warning against cell phone use, and, let’s say it: with so many studies on this matter and warnings coming from different health care providers, there must be something true about the damage caused by cell phones.

This time it was Dr. Ronald Herberman, director of the University of Pittsburgh Cancer Institute who warned against use of mobile phones. In a memorandum addressed to 3,000 faculty and staff at the institute on Wednesday, he cautioned about the risks of mobile phone use. Moreover, he urged his colleagues to limit mobile phone use, especially that of their children, because of a possible risk of cancer from electromagnetic radiation.

“Really at the heart of my concern is that we shouldn’t wait for a definite study to come out, but err on the side of being safe rather than sorry later,” Dr. Herberman said in the memorandum.

He also added that countries as France and Germany have already issued recommendations that exposure to electromagnetic fields should be limited, while Toronto’s Department of Public Health is urging teenagers and young children to limit their use of cell phones in order to avoid possible health risks.

Children are especially at danger since their organs are still developing, a process that might be threatened by the electromagnetic radiation of cell phones. A child’s developing organs “are the most likely to be sensitive to any possible effects of exposure to electromagnetic fields,” Dr. Herberman said.

He continued by recommending to keep the cell phone away from the body or to use the speakerphone mode or a wireless Bluetooth headset. Also as a precaution, people should not use the cell phone on public places like a bus because it exposes others to the phone’s electromagnetic fields.

Cell phones shouldn’t be kept near the body at night, especially under the pillow or on a bedside table, especially if you are pregnant.

Other recommendations of Dr. Herberman included: limit conversations on the mobile phone and instead, use text messaging; if conversations tend to be longer, then use a land line with a corded phone, not a cordless phone; avoid using the cell phone if the signal is weak or you’re moving with the train or the car because the radiation is maximum as the phone is trying to connect to a new relay antenna; wait until your correspondent has picked up because that limits the power of the electromagnetic field emitted near the ear and the duration of exposure.

Dr. Herberman’s memorandum, like many other studies warning against cell phone use, was immediately surrounded by controversy. The US Food and Drug Administration said on its Web site that “if there is a risk from these products – and at this point we do not know that there is – it is probably very small.” However, Dr. Herberman cited a “a growing body of literature linking long-term cell phone use to possible adverse health effects including cancer.”

He is more than convinced that there are sufficient data to “warrant issuing an advisory to share some precautionary advice on cell phone use.”

Meanwhile, it remains to be seen if Dr. Herberman’s memorandum changes something in the use of cell phones. However, people should be aware that they do not need a memorandum or an advisory to learn to stay away from trouble. In addition, the growing body of evidence linking cell phone use to various health problems should make them more aware of what’s best for them and those around.