Early next year, Maine Rep. Andrea Boland plans to introduce a bill that would require all cell phones and their packaging to carry a warning label, advising children and pregnant women to keep the device away from their heads and bodies.

On Oct. 15, Maine?? House and Senate voted to approve the bill for consideration during next year?? session. Before getting there, the bill will have to be tweaked and approved by a committee. So far, Boland tells me, she?? only been contacted by supporters of the legislation, which has been prompted by scientific studies that found a link between long-term cell-phone use and tumors and various other health problems. Many other studies have found no correlation, however, and, today, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration says that ??he weight of scientific evidence has not linked cell phones with any health problems.?/p>

As far as I know, this is the first bill of this kind in the U.S. But some countries in Europe have issued warnings or have recommended use of wireless headsets. It will be interesting to see if the bill passes, and if the idea spreads to other states.