[The effect of low-intensity prolonged impulse electromagnetic irradiation in the UHF range on the testes and the appendages of the testis in rats].
Lokhmatova SA, · 1994
View Original AbstractMale rats exposed to 3 GHz radiation showed lasting testicular damage at 0.25 mW/cm², below typical cell phone exposure levels.
Plain English Summary
Russian researchers exposed male rats to 3 GHz radiofrequency radiation (similar to some WiFi frequencies) for 2 hours daily over 4 months at power levels of 0.25 mW/cm². They found significant damage to the testes and sperm-producing structures, with effects persisting even 4 months after exposure ended. This suggests that prolonged RF exposure at relatively low power levels can cause lasting reproductive harm in male animals.
Why This Matters
This 1994 study provides compelling evidence that radiofrequency radiation can damage male reproductive organs at power levels well below current safety standards. The 0.25 mW/cm² exposure level used here is actually lower than what you might encounter from a cell phone held close to your body (typically 1-2 mW/cm²). What makes this research particularly concerning is the persistence of damage - the rats showed no signs of recovery even months after exposure stopped, suggesting these effects may be permanent. The science demonstrates that the male reproductive system appears especially vulnerable to RF radiation, which aligns with dozens of other studies showing similar effects. This research adds to a growing body of evidence suggesting our current safety standards may not adequately protect reproductive health, particularly with the chronic exposures that characterize modern life.
Exposure Details
- Power Density
- 0.25 µW/m²
- Source/Device
- 3 GHz
- Exposure Duration
- 4 months, 2 hr/day
Exposure Context
This study used 0.25 µW/m² for radio frequency:
- 25Mx above the Building Biology guideline of 0.1 μW/m²
- 416.7Kx 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 this study is to investigate The effect of low-intensity prolonged impulse electromagnetic irradiation in the UHF range on the testes and the appendages of the testis in rats
The influence of the long (4 months, 2 hr/day) impulsive electromagnetic irradiation with the power ...
The results demonstrate the high sensitivity of the rat testes and epididymides to electromagnetic f...
The full recovery has not been observed even 4 months after irradiation was finished.
Show BibTeX
@article{sa_1994_the_effect_of_lowintensity_1161,
author = {Lokhmatova SA and},
title = {[The effect of low-intensity prolonged impulse electromagnetic irradiation in the UHF range on the testes and the appendages of the testis in rats].},
year = {1994},
url = {https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/8193721/},
}