In view of reports pointing out possible health hazards of using cellphones, Indian telecom industry body for GSM players COAI clarified that the WHO body conducting research has not concluded radio frequency (RF) electro-magnetic field as a cause for cancer.

RF electro magnetic field is created around a cell phone when a user talks for a long time.

"It is significant that IARC has concluded that RF electromagnetic fields are not a definite nor a probable human carcinogen," Rajan S Mathews, Director General, Cellular Operators Association of India said in a statement.

He added that International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC) which is a part of World Health Organization has only concluded that it may still be possible that RF fields are carcinogenic and has identified areas for further research.

Any substance or agent that can cause cancer is termed carcinogen. IARC regularly runs assessments by panels of independent experts of the carcinogenic hazards posed to humans by a variety of agents,mixtures and exposures, in order to provide advice to health authorities around the world.

IARC in its latest research reviewed evidences critically, and overall evaluated as being limited among users of wireless telephones for glioma and acoustic neuroma, and inadequate to draw conclusions for other types of cancers.

Glioma is a type of tumor that starts in the brain or spine. It is called a glioma because it arises from glial cells and most common site of gliomas is the brain.

"Acoustic neuroma is a slow-growing tumor of the nerve that connects the ear to the brain. This nerve is located behind the ear right under the brain. An acoustic neuroma is benign, which means it does not spread to other parts of the body or invade the tissue around it. However, it can damage several important nerves as it grows," explained IARC report.

IARC further added that the working group did not quantify the risk. However, one study of past cell phone use (up to the year 2004) showed a 40 per cent increased risk for gliomas in the highest category of heavy users.

The research described heavy user as those who used cellphone for 30 minutes per day over a period 10 years.

"IARC have only assessed the possibility of risk not the likelihood of risk in normal use. Their assessment will now be considered by health authorities who will determine its overall impact," Mathews said.

The WHO body included coffee, diesel fuel, pickled vegetables among others in the same group of carcinogenic agents under which it placed RF electro-magnetic fields for its study.