3,138 Studies Reviewed. 77.4% Found Biological Effects. The Evidence is Clear.
Reproductive Health181 citations

Effects of cellular phone emissions on sperm motility in rats.

Bioeffects Seen

Yan JG, Agresti M, Bruce T, Yan YH, Granlund A, Matloub HS. · 2007

View Original Abstract
Share:

Male rats exposed to daily cell phone radiation for 18 weeks showed significantly higher sperm death and abnormal clumping.

Plain English Summary

Summary written for general audiences

Researchers exposed male rats to cellular phone emissions for 6 hours daily over 18 weeks and found significantly higher rates of sperm cell death compared to unexposed rats. The exposed rats also showed abnormal clumping of sperm cells that wasn't present in the control group. This suggests that keeping cell phones close to reproductive organs could harm male fertility.

Why This Matters

This study adds to mounting evidence that radiofrequency radiation from cell phones can damage reproductive health. What makes this research particularly concerning is the duration of exposure - 18 weeks represents a significant portion of a rat's reproductive lifespan, making it more relevant to long-term human exposure patterns. The finding of abnormal sperm clumping alongside increased cell death suggests multiple mechanisms of damage occurring simultaneously. While the study doesn't specify exact radiation levels, the practical implication is clear: men who routinely carry phones in their pants pockets or near their reproductive organs may be unknowingly compromising their fertility. The science demonstrates that this isn't just theoretical - measurable biological changes occur with chronic exposure.

Exposure Information

Specific exposure levels were not quantified in this study. Duration: 6 hours of daily cellular phone emissions for 18 weeks

Study Details

To evaluate the effects of cellular phone emissions on rat sperm cells.

Sixteen 3-month-old male Sprague-Dawley rats, weighing 250-300 g. Intervention(s): Rats in the exper...

Rats exposed to 6 hours of daily cellular phone emissions for 18 weeks exhibited a significantly hig...

These results suggest that carrying cell phones near reproductive organs could negatively affect male fertility.

Cite This Study
Yan JG, Agresti M, Bruce T, Yan YH, Granlund A, Matloub HS. (2007). Effects of cellular phone emissions on sperm motility in rats. Fertil Steril.88(4):957-64, 2007.
Show BibTeX
@article{jg_2007_effects_of_cellular_phone_2688,
  author = {Yan JG and Agresti M and Bruce T and Yan YH and Granlund A and Matloub HS.},
  title = {Effects of cellular phone emissions on sperm motility in rats.},
  year = {2007},
  
  url = {https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/17628553/#:~:text=Result(s)%3A%20Rats%20exposed,rats%20through%20chi%2Dsquared%20analysis.},
}

Quick Questions About This Study

Researchers exposed male rats to cellular phone emissions for 6 hours daily over 18 weeks and found significantly higher rates of sperm cell death compared to unexposed rats. The exposed rats also showed abnormal clumping of sperm cells that wasn't present in the control group. This suggests that keeping cell phones close to reproductive organs could harm male fertility.