Maine House rejects weakened bill requiring cell phone warnings

Maine House nixes cell warnings

AUGUSTA, Maine — The Maine House of Representatives has rejected a watered-down version of a bill to require cancer warnings on cell phones.

The original measure sought to require warnings on mobile phones and their packaging that electromagnetic radiation from the devices can cause brain cancer, especially in children.

But with the industry and Gov. John Baldacci opposed to the measure, the bill was scaled back to direct state health officials to add links on their Web site to existing federal cell phone advisories. It also would urge federal agencies to do more research on cell phone use and ask the industry to bolster consumer education on cell phone safety.

The Maine House on Thursday rejected that version.

The bill’s prospects in the Senate do not look bright.