Children's brains at risk from mobile phone use

Young children absorb up to 50 per cent more radiation than adults when using mobile phones, according to the latest research from the University of Utah.

Radiation penetrates half-way through the brain of a five year-old, compared with 30 per cent for a 10 year-old. Penetration levels for adults are limited to a small area around the ear, the Sunday Times reported this weekend.

Om Gandhi, professor of electrical engineering at the university and the man in charge of the research, told the paper that the results suggest the international safety tests currently used to measure absorption levels are inadequate and should be changed to take account of the size and thickness of a child's skull.

Meanwhile, Vodafone has been named in the latest US legal action against the mobile phone industry.

The suit was filed on Thursday on behalf of Illinois-based Michael Murray, a 34 year-old brain tumour victim. He is claiming compensation, punitive and other damages totalling over £1bn.

The case is just one of dozens currently going through the legal system in the States. No conclusive proof has yet been found to link mobile phone use to cancer.