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Reproductive Health

Gender-specific reproductive outcome and exposure to high-frequency electromagnetic radiation among physiotherapists.

No Effects Found

Larsen AI, Olsen J, Svane O · 1991

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High EMF exposure during pregnancy dramatically reduced male births to just 23.5%, suggesting male fetuses are especially vulnerable to electromagnetic radiation.

Plain English Summary

Summary written for general audiences

Danish researchers studied 586 pregnancies among physiotherapists exposed to high-frequency electromagnetic radiation from medical equipment. They found that mothers with high EMF exposure gave birth to significantly fewer boys (only 23.5% compared to the normal 51%), and male babies born to exposed mothers had lower birth weights. The study suggests that EMF exposure may selectively affect male reproductive outcomes.

Study Details

The aim of this case-referent study was to investigate reproductive hazards other than congenital malformations after exposure to high-frequency electromagnetic radiation.

Cases and referents were sampled from a cohort of pregnancies of members of the Union of Danish Phys...

A total of 8.4% did not participate. Only 23.5% of the children born by the highly exposed mothers w...

The other outcomes were not statistically significantly associated with exposure to high-frequency electromagnetic radiation.

Cite This Study
Larsen AI, Olsen J, Svane O (1991). Gender-specific reproductive outcome and exposure to high-frequency electromagnetic radiation among physiotherapists. Scand J Work Environ Health 17(5):324-329, 1991.
Show BibTeX
@article{ai_1991_genderspecific_reproductive_outcome_and_3179,
  author = {Larsen AI and Olsen J and Svane O},
  title = {Gender-specific reproductive outcome and exposure to high-frequency electromagnetic radiation among physiotherapists.},
  year = {1991},
  
  url = {https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/1947918/},
}
PubMed: 1947918

Cited By (97 papers)

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Quick Questions About This Study

A 1991 Danish study found that physiotherapists with high EMF exposure from medical equipment gave birth to significantly fewer boys - only 23.5% compared to the normal 51%. This suggests electromagnetic radiation may selectively impact male reproductive outcomes during pregnancy.
Research shows high-frequency electromagnetic radiation exposure was associated with lower birth weights, but only in male babies. A study of 586 pregnancies among physiotherapists found this effect was specific to boys, not girls.
A study of pregnant physiotherapists exposed to high-frequency EMF from medical equipment found altered gender ratios and lower birth weights in male babies. However, other pregnancy outcomes showed no statistically significant associations with EMF exposure.
Danish research on physiotherapists exposed to high-frequency electromagnetic radiation found significant effects on male reproductive outcomes, including fewer male births and lower birth weights for boys. Female reproductive outcomes were not significantly affected.
Studies suggest EMF exposure may primarily affect male reproductive development rather than female. Research found that high EMF exposure was linked to fewer male births and lower birth weights specifically in boys, showing a gender-specific pattern.