Parents are ignoringhealth warnings by allowing young children to use mobile phones, according to a leading expert. In his latest report, Sir William Stewart, head of the National Radiological Protection Board, says there is still no proof that mobiles are harmful, but nonetheless he recommends a precautionary approach because of the difficulties of assessing the impact of such a rapidly evolving technology. He points out that childrens' skulls are not fully thickened and their nervous systems not properly developed - any radiation from a phone will penetrate further into their brains. Sir William also calls for a review of the planning process for base stations and argues that mobile phone masts should not be sited near schools, saying he is now more concerned about possible health hazards than he was five years ago. According to the latest figures, one in four children between the ages of seven and ten, now owns a mobile phone.
Parents can help reduce the risks by chosing phones with a low emission rate or SAR - go to the Mobile Manufacturers Forum website for information on individual phones.
Do you think children under 8 should be allowed to use mobile phones? Tell us what you think by voting in our Tigerpoll.
This is the diary of Clare Kent.
Life in the Slow Lane is written by Clare Kent. She has three children - Max is eleven, Flo is eight and Bobby is seven - and lives in Wiltshire.
Juliet Jones lives in domestic chaos with husband Steve, son Oliver (aged 5) and daughters Billie (aged 3) and Rosa (born 1 May 2003) in Hertfordshire.
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