The Iowa Highway Patrol put a ban on hand-held radar guns yesterday in Des Moines, Iowa.

The ban of hand-held radar guns was ordered as a precaution while studies are conducted into the possible links between cancer and the usage of these guns. “The feeling here is to err on the side of caution until more is known about the issue, ” said spokesman Adam Berluti.

The move to ban hand-held radar guns is considered to be the first of its kind. It comes two months after three municipal officers in Cedar Rapids filed workman’s compensation claims, saying they developed cancer from using the hand-held guns.

The ban affects 70 radar guns that will be withdrawn from service. Troopers in the state of Iowa will continue to use radar units with transmitter mounted on the outside of their cruisers.