Prolonged 3.5 GHz and 24 GHz RF-EMF Exposure Alters Testicular Immune Balance, Apoptotic Gene Expression, and Sperm Function in Rats
Syed Taha SMA, Jaffar FHF, Hairulazam A, Vijay S, Jamaludin N, Zulkifli AF, Mat Ros MF, Osman K, Zakaria Z, Mohd Bahar MAA, et al. · 2025
5G frequencies damage sperm quality and testicular immune function in rats, with longer exposures causing worse effects.
Plain English Summary
Malaysian researchers exposed male rats to 5G frequencies (3.5 GHz and 24 GHz) for 60 days and found both frequencies damaged sperm quality and disrupted testicular immune function. The 24 GHz millimeter waves reduced sperm concentration and viability, while 3.5 GHz primarily affected sperm movement. Longer daily exposures (7 hours vs 1 hour) made the damage worse.
Why This Matters
This study provides concerning evidence that 5G frequencies can impair male fertility through multiple biological pathways. What makes this research particularly relevant is its focus on the specific frequencies now being deployed in 5G networks worldwide. The 3.5 GHz frequency tested here is commonly used for 5G coverage, while 24 GHz represents the millimeter-wave spectrum that enables 5G's fastest speeds. The fact that both frequencies caused distinct patterns of reproductive damage suggests the problem isn't limited to one type of 5G deployment.
The duration-dependent effects are especially troubling. While even one hour of daily exposure caused measurable harm, seven hours amplified the damage significantly. This mirrors real-world exposure patterns as 5G infrastructure densifies around us. The study's focus on immune disruption and cellular death pathways in the testes reveals how RF-EMF may be undermining male fertility at the molecular level, adding to a growing body of research linking wireless radiation to declining sperm quality worldwide.
Exposure Information
Specific exposure levels were not quantified in this study.
Show BibTeX
@article{prolonged_35_ghz_and_24_ghz_rf_emf_exposure_alters_testicular_immune_balance_apoptotic_gene_expression_and_sperm_function_in_rats_ce3052,
author = {Syed Taha SMA and Jaffar FHF and Hairulazam A and Vijay S and Jamaludin N and Zulkifli AF and Mat Ros MF and Osman K and Zakaria Z and Mohd Bahar MAA and et al.},
title = {Prolonged 3.5 GHz and 24 GHz RF-EMF Exposure Alters Testicular Immune Balance, Apoptotic Gene Expression, and Sperm Function in Rats},
year = {2025},
doi = {10.3390/biomedicines13102471},
}