Medical/biological study (experimental study)

Effects of electromagnetic radiation from a cellular phone on human sperm motility: an in vitro study. med./bio.

By: Erogul O, Oztas E, Yildirim I, Kir T, Aydur E, Komesli G, Irkilata HC, Irmak MK, Peker AF

Published in: Arch Med Res 2006; 37 (7): 840-843

Aim of study (acc. to author)

To investigate possible effects on human sperm parameters exposed to electromagnetic irradiation of a GSM mobile phone in vitro.

Background/further details: The study population was composed of 27 healthy men with normal sperm parameters defined by the WHO. The sperm sample from each participant was divided into electromagnetic irradiation-exposed and not-exposed group.

Endpoint

effects on the reproductive system: sperm quality

Exposure

- mobile communications
- digital mobile phone
- GSM

Exposure	Parameters
Exposure 1: 900 MHz Modulation type: pulsed Exposure duration: continuous for 5 min	power: 2 W peak value power density: 0.02 mW/cm² mean magnetic flux density: 7.1 µT (1.7-7.1 µT)

Exposure 1

Main characteristics

Frequency	900 MHz
Type	electromagnetic field
Exposure duration	continuous for 5 min

Modulation

Modulation type

pulsed

Exposure setup

Exposure source	cellular phone GSM, activated
Distance between exposed object and exposure source	10 cm
Chamber	In the exposure room, there were no other metal or ferromagnetic materials around the clean benches made of marble that would change the structure of the EMF. The use of any EMF emitting device was not allowed.

Parameters

Measurand	Value	Type	Method	Mass	Remarks
power	2 W	peak value	-	-	-
power density	0.02 mW/cm²	mean	-	-	-
magnetic flux density	7.1 µT	-	measured	-	1.7-7.1 µT

Additional parameter details

The EMF level produced by the mobile phone stayed approximately constant during ringing and speaking. Environmental EMF levels in the analysis and the exposure room, measured on the clean benches and on the stages of microscopes, were 0.1-0.4 µT, also with the mobile phone in stand-by.

Measurement and calculation details

All EMF measurements were performed using a Triaxial Magnetic Meter.

Reference articles

Panagopoulos DJ et al. (2004): Effect of GSM 900 MHz mobile phone radiation on the reproductive capacity of Drosophila melanogaster

Methods Endpoint/measurement parameters/methodology

effects on the reproductive system: sperm concentration (Makler counting chamber), sperm motility (WHO grade: A: rapid progressive, B: slow progressive, C: nonprogressive, D: no motility)

Investigated material:

sperms

Time of investigation:

after exposure

Main outcome of study (acc. to author)

Statistically significant differences in sperm motility were observed in the rapid progressive, slow progressive and no motility categories. Electromagnetic irradiation exposure caused a subtle decrease in the rapid progressive and slow progressive sperm motility. It also caused an increase in the no motility category of sperm motility.
There was no statistically significant difference in the sperm concentration between the exposed and not-exposed group.

Study character:

medical/biological study
experimental study
full/main study

Study funded by

not stated/no funding

Schauer I et al. (2018): Combined effects of varicocele and cell phones on semen and hormonal parameters.
Zhang G et al. (2016): Effects of cell phone use on semen parameters: results from the MARHCS cohort study in Chongqing, China.
Radwan M et al. (2016): Sperm DNA damage - the effect of stress and everyday life factors.
Nakatani-Enomoto S et al. (2016): Effects of 1950 MHz W-CDMA-like signal on human spermatozoa.
Zalata A et al. (2015): In vitro effect of cell phone radiation on motility, DNA fragmentation and clusterin gene expression in human sperm.
Zilberlicht A et al. (2015): Habits of cell phone usage and sperm quality - does it warrant attention?
Gorpinchenko I et al. (2014): The influence of direct mobile phone radiation on sperm quality.
Rago R et al. (2013): The semen quality of the mobile phone users.
Avendano C et al. (2012): Use of laptop computers connected to internet through Wi-Fi decreases human sperm motility and increases sperm DNA fragmentation.
Kesari KK et al. (2011): Effects of radiofrequency electromagnetic wave exposure from cellular phones on the reproductive pattern in male wistar rats.
Falzone N et al. (2011): The effect of pulsed 900-MHz GSM mobile phone radiation on the acrosome reaction, head morphometry and zona binding of human spermatozoa.
Gutschi T et al. (2011): Impact of cell phone use on men's semen parameters.
Lukac N et al. (2011): In vitro effects of radiofrequency electromagnetic waves on bovine spermatozoa motility.
Falzone N et al. (2010): Mobile Phone Radiation Does Not Induce Pro-apoptosis Effects in Human Spermatozoa.
Kesari KK et al. (2010): Mobile phone usage and male infertility in Wistar rats.
Otitoloju AA et al. (2010): Preliminary study on the induction of sperm head abnormalities in mice, Mus musculus, exposed to radiofrequency radiations from global system for mobile communication base stations.
Kesari KK et al. (2010): Microwave exposure affecting reproductive system in male rats.
Agarwal A et al. (2009): Effects of radiofrequency electromagnetic waves (RF-EMW) from cellular phones on human ejaculated semen: an in vitro pilot study.
Mailankot M et al. (2009): Radio frequency electromagnetic radiation (RF-EMR) from GSM (0.9/1.8GHz) mobile phones induces oxidative stress and reduces sperm motility in rats.
Agarwal A et al. (2008): Effect of cell phone usage on semen analysis in men attending infertility clinic: an observational study.
Dasdag S et al. (2008): Mobile phone exposure does not induce apoptosis on spermatogenesis in rats.
Falzone N et al. (2008): In vitro effect of pulsed 900 MHz GSM radiation on mitochondrial membrane potential and motility of human spermatozoa.
Fejes I et al. (2007): Hypothesis: safety of using mobile phones on male fertility.
Ribeiro EP et al. (2007): Effects of subchronic exposure to radio frequency from a conventional cellular telephone on testicular function in adult rats.
Iorio R et al. (2007): A preliminary study of oscillating electromagnetic field effects on human spermatozoon motility.
Wdowiak A et al. (2007): Evaluation of the effect of using mobile phones on male fertility.
Deepinder F et al. (2007): Outlook - Cell phones and male infertility: dissecting the relationship.
Derias EM et al. (2006): Growing concern over the safety of using mobile phones and male fertility.
Fejes I et al. (2005): Is there a relationship between cell phone use and semen quality?
Panagopoulos DJ et al. (2004): Effect of GSM 900 MHz mobile phone radiation on the reproductive capacity of Drosophila melanogaster
Davoudi M et al. (2002): [Influence of electromagnetic waves on sperm motality].