Kucinich bill would examine health effects of cell phones

Rep. Dennis Kucinich (D-Ohio) on Wednesday said he'll soon introduce legislation to monitor the health effects of cell phone use. 

The bill would launch a national research program to study any such effects, while also establishing a system of phone labels to indicate the radiation level of each device.

Kucinich, who chairs the House Oversight Committee's subpanel on domestic policy, said there's plenty of uncertainty surrounding the health effects of cell phone use. But the research to find clearer answers, he added, shouldn't be left in the hands of the phone companies themselves. 

"Some studies find links. Some don’t," he said in a statement. "But studies funded by the telecommunications industry are significantly less likely to find a link between cell phones and health effects.  

"We need a first-class research program to give us answers. Until we know for sure, a labeling law will ensure that cell phone users can decide for themselves the level of risk that they will accept. Obviously, cell phone companies should not be the ones making that decision for us."