For the first time, Health Canada is encouraging parents to limit their children's use of cellphone to reduce their exposure to the radiofrequency energy emitted by the phones.

In new guidelines issued Wednesday, the agency said it is actively "encouraging" parents of children under the age of 18 to limit their children's exposure to cellphone radiation through the following steps

• Replace cell phone calls with text messages
• Use "hands-free" devices
• Limit the length of cellphone calls

As for adults, Health Canada "reminds" them that they can take these measures too.

The agency noted in its statement that the effects of cellphone radiation on kids remain largely unexplored.

"There is currently a lack of scientific information regarding the potential health impacts of cell phones on children," the agency says.

Health Canada says the current evidence linking radiofrequency energy and cancer "is far from conclusive." More research is needed to clarify the "possible" link, it said.

James McNamee, the division chief for health effects and assessments in Health Canada's bureau of consumer and clinical radiation protection, insists the change in advice is subtle.

"The advice to Canadians is largely the same. The science hasn't really changed. Health Canada's just being a little more proactive on this, in a nutshell," he told The Canadian Press.

The new recommendations stem from a decision by the International Agency for Research on Cancer, the cancer arm of the World Health Organization, to classify the radiation from cellphones as "possibly carcinogenic" to humans.

IARC announced its decision in May, after reviewing dozens of published studies on the matter. It said there was enough data showing a possible increased risk for a type of brain cancer called glioma to justify the classification.

IARC placed cellphone radiation into its 2B category, which also includes the pesticide Still, Health Canada isn't ready to spell out limits for cellphone use. Nor did it mention having any plans to change the safety regulations for cellphones.

In its statement Wednesday, Health Canada left the door open for further updates in its advice.

"Health Canada scientists continually review scientific studies in this area to ensure safety guidelines are sufficient for the protection of the health and safety of Canadians. The guidelines were updated in 2009, and the next update is planned for 2012."