Cell Phone Radiation Damages Sperm

 
June 28, 2012 - PRLog -- Cell Phone Radiation Damages Sperm

Today the Environmental Working Group (EWG) published a review of ten studies that found cell phone radiation damages human sperm.*

"EWG scientists have analyzed 10 scientific studies documenting evidence that cell phone radiation exposure leads to slower, fewer and shorter-lived sperm. The studies raise concerns for men who carry their phones on their belts or in pants pockets."

The EWG asked me to serve as an external reviewer because I disseminated a review paper on this topic published online by the Journal of Andrology last July. This paper was recently published in the print version of the Journal.**  Although, only two media sources in the U.S. covered this paper last summer, Men's Health and CNET, the CNET article was reprinted on more than 100 news web sites in six other countries.

Unfortunately for public health in the U.S., our news media have been reluctant to report on health risks associated with cell phone use as compared to other countries. I hope our news media do a better job in covering the sperm damage issue now because infertility is a common problem here. Moreover, men just need to take simple precautions to reduce potential harm from cell phone use.

As the EWG notes, there is preliminary evidence of reproductive health effects in children associated with fetal exposure to cell phone radiation so pregnant women as well as teens should take precaution. At a minimum, all should heed the advice buried "in fine print" in one online cell phone user manual ...

“use hands-free operation if it is available and keep the BlackBerry device at least 0.98 in. (25mm) from your body (including the abdomen of pregnant women and the lower abdomen of teenagers) when the BlackBerry device is turned on and connected to the wireless network.”  http://swampland.time.com/2010/10/15/blackberry-keep-our-...

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* Environmental Working Group. Cell Phone Radiation Damages Sperm, Studies Show. Jun 28, 2012; URL: http://www.ewg.org/cell-phone-radiation-damages-sperm-stu...

** La Vignera et al. Effects of the exposure to mobile phones on male reproduction: a review of the literature. Journal of Andrology. 2012 May/June: 33(3):350-356. URL: http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/21799142.

ABSTRACT: The use of mobile phones is now widespread. A great debate exists about the possible damage that the radiofrequency electromagnetic radiation (RF-EMR) emitted by mobile phones exerts on different organs and apparatuses. The aim of this article was to review the existing literature exploring the effects of RF-EMR on the male reproductive function in experimental animals and humans. Studies have been conducted in rats, mice, and rabbits using a similar design based upon mobile phone RF exposure for variable lengths of time. Together, the results of these studies have shown that RF-EMR decreases sperm count and motility and increases oxidative stress. In humans, 2 different experimental approaches have been followed: one has explored the effects of RF-EMR directly on spermatozoa and the other has evaluated the sperm parameters in men using or not using mobile phones. The results showed that human spermatozoa exposed to RF-EMR have decreased motility, morphometric abnormalities, and increased oxidative stress, whereas men using mobile phones have decreased sperm concentration, decreased motility (particularly rapid progressive motility), normal morphology, and decreased viability. These abnormalities seem to be directly related to the duration of mobile phone use.

Additional Resources:

Environmental Health Trust web site:
http://ehtrust.org/men/

Report: Cell phone use could reduce sperm count
Dong Ngo, CNET, August 18, 2011
(This article was reprinted on 105 news web sites in China, Indonesia, Romania, Taiwan, United Kingdom, and Vietnam.)
http://www.cnet.com/8301-17918_1-20093675-85/report-cell-phone-use-could-reduce-sperm-count/
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