Study type: Medical/biological study (experimental study)

Influence of radiofrequency-electromagnetic waves from 3rd-generation cellular phones on fertilization and embryo development in mice med./bio.

By: Suzuki S, Okutsu M, Suganuma R, Komiya H, Nakatani-Enomoto S, Kobayashi S, Ugawa Y, Tateno H, Fujimori K
Published in: Bioelectromagnetics 2017; 38 (6): 466-473
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Aim of study (acc. to author)

To investigate the effects of exposure to a radiofrequency electromagnetic field on fertilization and embryogenesis of mice in vitro.

Background/further details

Sperm cells and oocytes were collected from mice and separately exposed or sham exposed for 1 hour, respectively. Afterwards, an in vitro fertilization was performed. Thereby, 4 groups were formed: 1a) exposed sperm cells + exposed oocytes, 2a) exposed sperm cells + sham exposed oocytes, 3a) sham exposed sperm cells + exposed oocytes and 4a) sham exposed sperm cells and sham exposed oocytes. As an alternative fertilization method, "intra-cytoplasmic sperm injection" was used and the same groups were examined (groups 1b, 2b, 3b and 4b).

Endpoint

Exposure

Exposure Parameters
Exposure 1: 1,950 MHz
Exposure duration: 60 minutes

Exposure 1

Main characteristics
Frequency 1,950 MHz
Type
Exposure duration 60 minutes
Exposure setup
Exposure source
Chamber sperm cells and oocytes were respectively exposed in 35-mm Petri dishes
Setup exposure system was put in an incubator (37°C, 5% CO2, 100% humidity) and consisted of two RF-generators each of which was included into a separate waveguide together with frames on which the dishes for exposure were mounted; temperature change in the culture medium due to exposure was 0.13°C/W/kg or less
Sham exposure A sham exposure was conducted.
Additional info the non-uniformity in SAR distribution for the medium for spermatozoa in 35- mm Petri dishes was 2.4 dB, whereas that in the medium for oocytes was 1.4 dB
Parameters
Measurand Value Type Method Mass Remarks
SAR 2 W/kg - calculated - -

Reference articles

  • Gong Y et al. (2014): Dosimetric assessment of two-layer cell culture configurations for fertility research at 1950 MHz
  • Gerner C et al. (2010): Increased protein synthesis by cells exposed to a 1,800-MHz radio-frequency mobile phone electromagnetic field, detected by proteome profiling
  • Schuderer J et al. (2004): High Peak SAR Exposure Unit With Tight Exposure and Environmental Control for In Vitro Experiments at 1800 MHz

Exposed system:

Methods Endpoint/measurement parameters/methodology

Investigated system:
Investigated organ system:
Time of investigation:
  • after exposure

Main outcome of study (acc. to author)

No significant differences in the fertilization rate, the number of embryos and chromosome aberrations were found between any of the groups.
The authors conclude that exposure to a radiofrequency electromagnetic field had no influence on fertilization and embryogenesis of mice in vitro. Furthermore, they conclude that the results indicate safety of radiofrequency electromagnetic fields in humans, considering that the exposure in the present study was 100 times greater for sperm cells and oocytes than in real life.

Study character:

Study funded by

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