Health specialists recommended yesterday limiting the use of mobile phones, keeping the appliance away from children under the age of 16 and carefully choosing handsets in order to reduce the possible harm it could cause to users.

At a conference organized by the Athens Medical School and the Hellenic Society for Social Pediatrics and Health Promotion, experts pointed out the mixed messages coming from health professionals on the dangers of using a cell phone.

According to survey results presented yesterday, 76 percent of doctors said patients ask them whether mobile phones are safe but more than eight in 10 health professionals admitted to being poorly informed on the subject.

Around 70 percent said there is evidence linking mobile phone usage with cancer.