Impact of microwave at X-band in the aetiology of male infertility.
Kumar S, Behari J, Sisodia R. · 2012
View Original AbstractMale rats exposed to 10-GHz microwaves showed sperm damage at low power levels, suggesting potential fertility risks from radar-frequency radiation.
Plain English Summary
Researchers exposed male rats to 10-GHz microwave radiation (similar to radar) for 2 hours daily over 45 days. The radiation significantly altered sperm biochemistry, reducing protective melatonin levels and changing energy metabolism. These cellular changes suggest prolonged microwave exposure could potentially harm male fertility.
Why This Matters
This study adds to mounting evidence that radiofrequency radiation can affect male reproductive health at the cellular level. The 10-GHz frequency used falls within the X-band range used by some radar systems and satellite communications. What makes this research particularly relevant is that the exposure level (0.014 W/kg SAR) is relatively low compared to some wireless devices, yet still produced measurable biological changes. The reduction in melatonin levels is especially concerning, as melatonin serves as a powerful antioxidant that protects sperm from damage. While this was an animal study, the biochemical pathways involved are similar in humans, making these findings worth serious consideration given the documented decline in male fertility rates worldwide.
Exposure Details
- SAR
- 0.014 W/kg
- Power Density
- 0.21 µW/m²
- Source/Device
- 10-GHz
- Exposure Duration
- 2 h a day for 45 days
Exposure Context
This study used 0.21 µW/m² for radio frequency:
- 21Mx above the Building Biology guideline of 0.1 μW/m²
- 350Kx above the BioInitiative Report recommendation of 0.0006 μW/cm²
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 Details
The aim of the present work was to investigate the effect of 10-GHz EMF on male albino rat's reproductive system and to investigate the possible causative factor for such effect of exposure.
The study was carried out in two groups of 70-day old adult male albino rats: a sham-exposed and a 1...
Creatine kinase results revealed an increased level of phosphorylation that converts creatine to cre...
It is concluded that microwave exposure could adversely affect male fertility by reducing availability of the above parameters. These results are indications of deleterious effects of these radiations on reproductive pattern of male rats.
Show BibTeX
@article{s_2012_impact_of_microwave_at_1121,
author = {Kumar S and Behari J and Sisodia R.},
title = {Impact of microwave at X-band in the aetiology of male infertility.},
year = {2012},
url = {https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/22897403/},
}