Mobile phone radiation induces reactive oxygen species production and DNA damage in human spermatozoa in vitro.
De Iuliis GN, Newey RJ, King BV, Aitken RJ. · 2009
View Original AbstractMobile phone radiation damages human sperm DNA and reduces fertility at exposure levels within current safety limits.
Plain English Summary
Researchers exposed human sperm cells to radiofrequency radiation at the same frequency used by mobile phones (1.8 GHz) for 24 hours in laboratory conditions. They found that as radiation levels increased, sperm became less mobile and viable, while also showing increased DNA damage and harmful cellular stress. This suggests that mobile phone radiation could potentially affect male fertility and even the health of future children.
Why This Matters
This study provides compelling evidence that mobile phone radiation can directly damage human sperm at the cellular level. The researchers used specific absorption rates (SAR) ranging from 0.4 to 27.5 W/kg, which encompasses and exceeds the typical 1.6-2.0 W/kg limit for phones sold in most countries. What makes this research particularly significant is the clear dose-response relationship they observed - the more radiation exposure, the greater the damage to sperm motility, viability, and DNA integrity. The science demonstrates that radiofrequency radiation triggers oxidative stress in sperm cells, creating harmful free radicals that attack cellular structures. What this means for you is that the radiation from devices you use daily may be affecting reproductive health in ways we're only beginning to understand. While this was a laboratory study, the implications align with growing epidemiological evidence linking mobile phone use to declining sperm quality worldwide.
Exposure Details
- SAR
- 0.4 - 27.5 W/kg
- Source/Device
- 1.8 GHz (RF-EMR) from Mobile Phones
- Exposure Duration
- 24 h
Where This Falls on the Concern Scale
Study Details
To investigate if Mobile Phone Radiation Induces Reactive Oxygen Species Production and DNA Damage in Human Spermatozoa In Vitro.
The study design involved overnight exposure to RF-EMR at a defined frequency (1.8 GHz), over a rang...
Purified human spermatozoa were exposed to radio-frequency electromagnetic radiation (RF-EMR) tuned ...
RF-EMR in both the power density and frequency range of mobile phones enhances mitochondrial reactive oxygen species generation by human spermatozoa, decreasing the motility and vitality of these cells while stimulating DNA base adduct formation and, ultimately DNA fragmentation. These findings have clear implications for the safety of extensive mobile phone use by males of reproductive age, potentially affecting both their fertility and the health and wellbeing of their offspring.
Show BibTeX
@article{gn_2009_mobile_phone_radiation_induces_12,
author = {De Iuliis GN and Newey RJ and King BV and Aitken RJ.},
title = {Mobile phone radiation induces reactive oxygen species production and DNA damage in human spermatozoa in vitro.},
year = {2009},
doi = {10.1371/journal.pone.0006446},
url = {http://dx.plos.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0006446},
}