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Note: This study found no significant biological effects under its experimental conditions. We include all studies for scientific completeness.

Reproductive Health

The effects of simultaneous combined exposure to CDMA and WCDMA electromagnetic fields on rat testicular function.

No Effects Found

Lee HJ, Jin YB, Kim TH, Pack JK, Kim N, Choi HD, Lee JS, Lee YS. · 2011

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Male rats showed no reproductive harm from 12 weeks of cell phone radiation at twice current safety limits.

Plain English Summary

Summary written for general audiences

Researchers exposed male rats to combined cell phone signals (CDMA and WCDMA) at very high levels for 12 weeks to study effects on sperm production and reproductive health. The study found no measurable harm to sperm count, testosterone levels, or testicular function even at radiation levels twice the current safety limits. This suggests that typical cell phone use may not directly damage male fertility through electromagnetic field exposure.

Why This Matters

This study provides reassuring evidence for men concerned about cell phone radiation affecting their fertility. The researchers used SAR levels of 4.0 W/kg total, which is double the current safety limit of 2.0 W/kg that cell phones must meet. What this means for you is that even at exposure levels significantly higher than what your phone produces during normal use, no reproductive harm was detected in this 12-week study. However, it's important to note this was a relatively short-term study in rats, and the reality is that human exposure patterns and biology may differ. While this research adds to a mixed body of evidence on EMF and fertility, it shouldn't be the final word on whether long-term, real-world cell phone use affects reproductive health.

Exposure Details

SAR
2,4 W/kg
Exposure Duration
45 min/day, 5 days/week for a total of 12 weeks.

Exposure Context

This study used 2,4 W/kg for SAR (device absorption):

Building Biology guidelines are practitioner-based limits from real-world assessments. BioInitiative Report recommendations are based on peer-reviewed science. Check Your Exposure to compare your own measurements.

Where This Falls on the Concern Scale

Study Exposure Level in ContextStudy Exposure Level in ContextThis study: 2,4 W/kgExtreme Concern - 0.1 W/kgFCC Limit - 1.6 W/kgEffects observed in the Extreme Concern range (Building Biology)This level is 1 times the FCC limit

Study Details

We therefore examined the effects of combined exposure to radiofrequency electromagnetic fields (RF-EMF) on rat testicular function, specifically with respect to sensitive processes such as spermatogenesis.

Male rats were exposed to single code division multiple access (CDMA) and wideband code division mul...

we concluded that simultaneous exposure to CDMA and WCDMA RF-EMFs at 4.0 W/kg SAR did not have any observable adverse effects on rat spermatogenesis.

Cite This Study
Lee HJ, Jin YB, Kim TH, Pack JK, Kim N, Choi HD, Lee JS, Lee YS. (2011). The effects of simultaneous combined exposure to CDMA and WCDMA electromagnetic fields on rat testicular function. Bioelectromagnetics. 2011 Oct 19. doi: 10.1002/bem.20715.
Show BibTeX
@article{hj_2011_the_effects_of_simultaneous_3186,
  author = {Lee HJ and Jin YB and Kim TH and Pack JK and Kim N and Choi HD and Lee JS and Lee YS.},
  title = {The effects of simultaneous combined exposure to CDMA and WCDMA electromagnetic fields on rat testicular function.},
  year = {2011},
  
  url = {https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/22012556/},
}
PubMed: 22012556

Cited By (48 papers)

Quick Questions About This Study

A 2011 study found no adverse effects on rat testicular function from combined CDMA and WCDMA radiation exposure at 4.0 W/kg SAR for 12 weeks. Sperm production, testosterone levels, and reproductive health remained normal even at twice current safety limits.
Research using 4.0 W/kg SAR exposure (twice current safety limits) for 12 weeks showed no measurable harm to male rat reproduction. Sperm count, testosterone production, and testicular function all remained within normal ranges throughout the study period.
A 12-week study exposing male rats to simultaneous CDMA and WCDMA signals found no observable adverse effects on spermatogenesis. Researchers concluded that combined cell phone radiation at high levels did not impair sperm production or development.
Twelve weeks of combined CDMA and WCDMA electromagnetic field exposure at 4.0 W/kg SAR produced no detectable changes in rat reproductive health. Testicular function, sperm parameters, and hormone levels remained stable throughout the extended exposure period.
High-level combined cell phone signals (CDMA and WCDMA) at 4.0 W/kg SAR did not affect testosterone levels in male rats during a 12-week study. Hormone production remained normal despite radiation exposure at twice current safety standards.