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Reproductive Health

Rat fertility and embryo fetal development: influence of exposure to the Wi-Fi signal

No Effects Found

Poulletier de Gannes F, Billaudel B, Haro E, Taxile M, Le Montagner L, Hurtier A, Ait Aissa S, Masuda H, Percherancier Y, Ruffié G, Dufour P, Veyret B, Lagroye I · 2013

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Wi-Fi exposure showed no fertility or fetal development effects in rats, even at levels 20 times higher than typical human exposure.

Plain English Summary

Summary written for general audiences

French researchers exposed pregnant rats and their developing offspring to Wi-Fi signals at 2.45 GHz for several weeks, including during mating and pregnancy. They found no harmful effects on fertility, pregnancy outcomes, or fetal development, even at exposure levels of 4 watts per kilogram. This suggests Wi-Fi exposure may not significantly impact reproductive health in this animal model.

Exposure Information

A logarithmic frequency spectrum from 10 Hz to 100 GHz showing where this study's 2450 MHz exposure sits relative to common EMF sources.Where This Frequency Sits on the EMF SpectrumELFVLFLF / MFHF / VHFUHFSHFmm10 Hz100 GHzThis study: 2450 MHzPower lines50/60 Hz5G mm28 GHzLogarithmic scale
Cite This Study
Poulletier de Gannes F, Billaudel B, Haro E, Taxile M, Le Montagner L, Hurtier A, Ait Aissa S, Masuda H, Percherancier Y, Ruffié G, Dufour P, Veyret B, Lagroye I (2013). Rat fertility and embryo fetal development: influence of exposure to the Wi-Fi signal.
Show BibTeX
@article{poulletier_de_gannes_f_billaudel_b_haro_e_taxile_m_le_montagner_l_hurtier_a_ait_aissa_s_masuda_h_percherancier_y_ruffi_g_dufour_p_veyret_b_lagroye_i_ce3833,
  author = {Poulletier de Gannes F and Billaudel B and Haro E and Taxile M and Le Montagner L and Hurtier A and Ait Aissa S and Masuda H and Percherancier Y and Ruffié G and Dufour P and Veyret B and Lagroye I},
  title = {Rat fertility and embryo fetal development: influence of exposure to the Wi-Fi signal},
  year = {2013},
  doi = {10.1016/j.reprotox.2012.11.003},
  
}
DOI: 10.1016/j.reprotox.2012.11.003PubMed: 23178895

Quick Questions About This Study

This rat study found no fetal abnormalities or developmental problems from Wi-Fi exposure during pregnancy, even at very high levels. However, this represents just one animal study, and more research is needed to fully understand potential risks to human pregnancy.
The study found no effects on male rat fertility from 2.45 GHz Wi-Fi exposure for 1 hour daily over 3 weeks. Male reproductive organs showed no damage even at 4 W/kg exposure levels, much higher than typical Wi-Fi exposure.
Based on this rat study, 1 hour daily Wi-Fi exposure caused no reproductive harm in either males or females. The researchers found normal mating success, pregnancy rates, and healthy offspring even with this regular exposure pattern.
Rat fetuses showed no macroscopic abnormalities or increased death rates when exposed to 4 W/kg Wi-Fi signals. This exposure level is approximately 20 times higher than what humans typically experience from Wi-Fi devices at home.
The study found no deleterious effects on female rat reproductive organs from Wi-Fi exposure. Females exposed for 2 weeks before mating and 3 weeks during pregnancy showed normal reproductive function and healthy pregnancies.