Hardell L et al. · 2007
A case-control study investigated the risk of testicular cancer in relation to use of cellular and cordless telephones. The analysis included 542 seminoma cases, 346 non-seminoma cases, and 870 controls. For seminoma, odds ratios were 1.2 for analog phones, 1.3 for digital phones, and 1.1 for cordless phones. For non-seminoma, odds ratios were 0.7 for analog phones, 0.9 for digital phones, and 1.0 for cordless phones. There was no dose-response effect and odds ratios did not increase with latency time.
Yan JG, Agresti M, Bruce T, Yan YH, Granlund A, Matloub HS. · 2007
Rats exposed to 6 hours of daily cellular phone emissions for 18 weeks exhibited a significantly higher incidence of sperm cell death than control group rats through chi-squared analysis. Abnormal clumping of sperm cells was present in exposed rats and absent in controls.
Wdowiak A, Wdowiak L, Wiktor H. · 2007
The objective was to determine the effect of cellular phone usage on the fertility of males undergoing marital infertility therapy. The study included 304 men divided into groups: 99 who did not use mobile phones, 157 who used GSM equipment sporadically for 1-2 years, and 48 who regularly used mobile phones for more than 2 years. An increase in the percentage of sperm cells with abnormal morphology was associated with longer duration of exposure to waves emitted by GSM phones. A decrease in the percentage of sperm cells with vital progressive motility was correlated with the frequency of mobile phone use.
Panagopoulos DJ et al. · 2007
Researchers used Drosophila melanogaster reproductive capacity to compare the biological activity of GSM 900 MHz and DCS 1800 MHz radiation. Both radiation types significantly reduced reproductive capacity in a non-thermal manner. GSM 900 MHz radiation appeared more bioactive than DCS 1800 MHz, a difference attributed mostly to field intensity and less to carrier frequency.
Panagopoulos DJ, Chavdoula ED, Nezis IP, Margaritis LH · 2007
Researchers used the TUNEL assay to detect DNA fragmentation in early and mid-oogenesis stages of Drosophila melanogaster. Flies were exposed to GSM 900-MHz or DCS 1800-MHz radiation from a mobile phone for a few minutes daily over the first six days of adult life. Both radiation types induced DNA fragmentation in all cell types of the egg chamber, leading to degeneration of egg chambers. Germarium and stages 7-8 were the most sensitive developmental stages, with germarium even more sensitive than stages 7-8.
Erogul O et al. · 2006
Researchers enrolled 27 men and divided each semen sample into two parts, exposing one to 900 MHz cellular phone radiation. Exposure caused a subtle decrease in rapid and slow progressive sperm movement and an increase in non-motile sperm. Sperm concentration did not differ significantly between exposed and unexposed samples.
Forgacs Z et al. · 2006
Researchers studied the possible effects of whole-body 1800 MHz GSM-like microwave exposure on male reproduction in mice. After repeated exposure at 0.018-0.023 W/kg SAR, an elevated serum testosterone level was measured, but no histopathological alteration could be detected in the reproductive organs. Leydig cell cultures from exposed animals did not differ from controls in their steroidogenic response.
Ozguner M et al. · 2005
Twenty adult male Sprague-Dawley rats were randomized into a control group and an EMF group exposed to 900 MHz EMF for 30 minutes per day, 5 days a week for 4 weeks. Testicular weight, biopsy score, and interstitial tissue percentage did not differ significantly between groups. Seminiferous tubule diameter and germinal epithelium height were significantly decreased in the EMF group. Serum testosterone was significantly lower in the EMF group, while LH and FSH did not change significantly.
Kilgallon SJ, Simmons LW. · 2005
Fejes I et al. · 2005
Researchers surveyed 371 men at a university clinic about their cell phone use habits and analyzed semen using conventional methods. Duration of possession and daily transmission time correlated negatively with rapid progressive motile sperm (r = -0.12 and r = -0.19) and positively with slow progressive motile sperm (r = 0.12 and r = 0.28). Men in the high transmitter group had a lower proportion of rapid progressive motile sperm than those in the low transmitter group (40.6% vs 48.7%).
Aitken RJ, Bennetts LE, Sawyer D, Wiklendt AM, King BV. · 2005
Researchers exposed mice to 900 MHz RFEMR at a specific absorption rate of approximately 90 mW/kg inside a waveguide for 7 days at 12 h per day. Sperm number, morphology, and vitality were not significantly affected by the exposure. However, detailed DNA analysis using QPCR revealed statistically significant damage to both the mitochondrial genome and the nuclear beta-globin locus.
Panagopoulos DJ, Karabarbounis A, Margaritis LH · 2004
The study used GSM mobile phones with a carrier frequency at 900 MHz. Insects were exposed to the near field of the mobile phone antenna for 6 minutes per day during the first 2–5 days of adult life. Modulated radiation decreased reproductive capacity by 50–60% while nonmodulated radiation decreased it by 15–20%. The authors suggested the radiation decreases the rate of cellular processes during gonad development.
Dasdag S et al. · 2003
Sixteen Sprague-Dawley rats were divided into exposed and sham-exposed groups of eight each. The exposed group received cell phone radiation for 20 minutes per day, seven days a week, for one month. No statistically significant alterations were found in any endpoints, including sperm count, morphology, testicular histology, lipid composition, malondialdehyde concentration, p53 immune reactivity, or rectal temperature.
Weisbrot D, Lin H, Ye L, Blank M, Goodman R. · 2003
Researchers exposed fruit flies to a discontinuous RF signal from a GSM multiband phone at 900/1,900 MHz with SAR approximately 1.4 W/kg for 10 days from egg laying through pupation. The non-thermal radiation increased offspring numbers, elevated hsp70 levels, increased SRE DNA-binding, and induced ELK-1 phosphorylation.
Grajewski B et al. · 2000
Researchers measured RF heater radiation exposures and induced foot currents at four companies. They compared 12 male heater operators with 34 unexposed men on 33 semen quality parameters and four serum hormones. Exposures did not exceed current standard levels and guidelines. Exposed operators showed a slightly higher mean follicle-stimulating hormone level (7.6 vs 5.8 mIU/mL). The authors suggested further occupational studies of RF-exposed men may be warranted.
Irgens A, Kruger K, Ulstein M · 1999
The study assessed whether reduced semen quality in infertile couples is associated with occupational exposures known to be hazardous to fertility. Results of the first semen analysis were linked to occupational exposure data from a self-administered questionnaire. Reduced semen quality was found in men exposed to electromagnetic fields with an odds ratio of 3.22 and a confidence interval of 1.46 to 7.09. A tendency toward reduced semen quality was seen in commuters, shift workers, and men exposed to heavy metals. In general, the impact of occupational exposure on semen quality in infertile couples in Norway seemed to be minor, however occupational exposure mapping is still important in individual infertility investigations.
Fink JM, Wagner JP, Congleton JJ, Rock JC · 1999
This study evaluated police officers' exposures to microwaves emitted by traffic radar units, with measurements taken at approximated ocular and testicular levels of officers seated in patrol vehicles. Fifty-four radar units covering 17 different models, 4 frequency bands, and 3 antenna configurations were provided by four speed-enforcement agencies and one transportation research institute. The researchers concluded that police officer exposure to microwave radiation is apparently minimal.
Dasdag et al. · 1999
Schrader et al. · 1998
Researchers conducted a follow-up study of semen quality in soldiers with different military assignments at Fort Hood, Texas. Thirty-three men were exposed to radar in Signal Corps operations, 57 men fired the 155-mm howitzer with potential lead exposure, and 103 men served as controls with neither exposure. Hormone levels and complete semen analyses were measured, and no statistical differences were observed in any semen quality measurement. Results for howitzer firing agreed with previous studies showing no semen quality deficits, but radar exposure results contradicted an earlier report of decreased sperm numbers. The authors concluded that more data are needed to evaluate the relationship between military radar and male reproductive health.
Hardell L, Nasman A, Ohlson CG, Fredrikson M. · 1998
The case-control study enrolled 148 cases (91% response) and 314 controls (87% response), including 101 seminoma and 47 embryonal testicular cancer cases. Occupational plastics work yielded an odds ratio of 2.9 with a 95% confidence interval of 1.3-6.5. Farming (OR 3.1, CI 1.03-9.1) and contact with farm animals (OR 3.3, CI 1.00-10.9) increased risk for embryonal cancer but not for seminoma. Exposure to insect repellents, mostly containing DEET, gave an odds ratio of 1.7 (CI 1.03-2.8) for all testicular cancer with a dose-response effect. Video display unit work gave an odds ratio of 1.5 (CI 0.98-2.3), and for 480 working days (median) the odds ratio increased to 1.8 (CI 1.1-3.2).
Indulski JA, Makowiec-Dabrowska T, Zmyslony M, Siedlecka J · 1997
The authors reviewed epidemiological data on the relationship between reproductive disorders and electromagnetic field exposure from power lines, industrial devices, medical appliances, video display terminals, and household devices. The analyzed studies examined effects on female and male reproduction, including spontaneous abortion, stillbirth, premature birth, low birth weight, congenital malformations, and progeny gender proportion among occupationally exposed persons.
Magras, IN, Xenos, TD · 1997
Researchers measured RF power densities between 168 nW/cm2 and 1053 nW/cm2 at several locations around an antenna park. Twelve pairs of mice divided into two groups were placed in locations of different power densities and mated five times. The number of newborns per dam decreased progressively until irreversible infertility occurred, but crown-rump length, body weight, and vertebral counts improved.
Jensh RP · 1997
This review examined whether chronic prenatal microwave exposure in rats caused adverse effects at birth or alterations in offspring development and growth. Pregnant rats were exposed throughout pregnancy to continuous wave 915 MHz, 2450 MHz, or 6000 MHz radiation at power density levels of 10, 20, or 35 mW/cm2, respectively. Animals exposed to 915 MHz did not exhibit any consistent significant alterations in any of the parameters measured. Offspring exposed to 6000 MHz showed an initial slight but significant retardation in term weight, delayed eye opening, lower weekly weights that recovered by the fifth week, and changes in water T-maze and open field performance.
Hjollund NH, Bonde JP, Skotte J · 1997
This preliminary survey examined semen quality among Danish military personnel who operated mobile ground-to-air missile units using microwave-emitting radar systems. The median sperm density of the military personnel was significantly low compared to reference values. The researchers noted that the difference could be due to chance, uncontrolled bias, or nonthermal effects of transitory microwaves.
Weyandt, TB, Schrader, SM, Turner, TW, Simon, SD · 1996
Researchers compared semen quality and hormone levels among artillerymen (n=30), radar equipment operators (n=20), and a comparison group (n=31). Questionnaire data showed many initial controls had potential microwave exposure as radar operators, so a comparison group without lead or microwave exposure was selected. Radar equipment operators with potential microwave exposure had significantly lower sperm counts per milliliter (P=0.009) and per ejaculate (P=0.027) than the comparison group. Artillerymen who perceived fertility concerns also had lower sperm counts per ejaculate (P=0.067) and per milliliter (P=0.014) than the comparison group.
