Recent Studies Show Wireless Radiation Impacts Fertility
Press Release online link: Recent Studies Show Wireless Radiation Impacts Fertility
Doctors caution that research finds sperm damage, reduced testosterone and impacts to ovaries
WASHINGTON, March 25, 2022—Devra Davis Ph.D., MPH, president of The Environmental Health Trust, highlighted five recently published reviews that found research linking wireless radiation to effects on sperm, testosterone and fertility.
Davis cites the 2022 review “The role of non-ionizing electromagnetic radiation on female fertility: A review” published in the International Journal of Public Health Research states, “To date, in vitro and in vivo studies unveiled that exposure to non-ionizing radiations brings about harmful effects on oocytes, ovarian follicles, endometrial tissue, estrous cycle, reproductive endocrine hormones, developing embryo, and fetal development in animal models” and concludes that non-ionizing radiation can “also affect other female reproductive parameters that might lead to infertility.”
“Infertility is rising around the world due to a variety of factors, many of which are environmental,” said Davis. “New studies clearly indicate that cell phone radiation can cause harm. Just because wireless radiation is non-ionizing, does not mean it is safe. The world needs to wake up to the fact that there are serious risks. The cell phone should stay out of your pants pocket and away from your abdomen.” Davis has authored numerous studies on the health effects of cell phone radiation and her Tedx talk was focused on cell phone radiation impacts to the brain and sperm.
The CDC reports among heterosexual women aged 15 to 49 years with no prior births, about one in five (19%) are unable to get pregnant after one year of trying and about one in four (26%) women in this group have difficulty getting pregnant or carrying a pregnancy to term. A study published in the Journal of Urology, documented decreases in sperm count.
Davis also points to numerous reviews by scientists from various countries repeatedly documenting a mounting body of science showing cell phone radiation harms sperm.
- The 2021 University of Delhi, India study Association between reproductive health and nonionizing radiation exposure,” published in the journal Electromagnetic Biology and Medicine concludes, “cell phone radiation harms male fertility by affecting the different parameters like sperm motility, sperm count, sperm morphology, semen concentration, morphometric abnormalities, increased oxidative stress along with some hormonal changes.”
- A 2021 Pusan National University Republic of Korea review published in Environmental Research concludes that, “accumulated data from in vivo studies show that mobile phone usage is harmful to sperm quality.”
- A 2021 systematic review by Chinese scientists published in Environmental Pollution concludes that “mobile phone RF-EMR exposure could suppress sperm motility and viability.”
- A 2021 systematic review by Malaysian scientists found that wireless can decrease testosterone.
Davis is an epidemiologist who has published more than 200 research papers on environmental health issues. Davis was part of the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change team that received the Nobel Peace Prize alongside the Honorable Al Gore for work on climate change. She presented research on sperm impacts in her lecture at the National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences and has testified to Congress on cell phone radiation. The non- profit scientific think tank Davis leads- Environmental Health Trust- is championing the issue of cell phone radiation and recently won in a lawsuit against the FCC regarding its 1996 human exposure limits for cell phone and cell tower radiation.
Davis’ peer-reviewed research on the impact of wireless radiation with Malka N. Halgamuge of the University of Melbourne Australia Department of Electrical and Electronic Engineering includes a 2020 published review “A meta-analysis of in vitro exposures to weak radiofrequency radiation exposure from mobile phones” which documented effects in faster-growing cell types such as human sperm.
Davis’ paper “Proteomic impacts of electromagnetic fields on the male reproductive system,” reviews the proteomic experimental and clinical evidence that electromagnetic fields “act as a male-mediated teratogen and contributor to infertility.”
Hugh S. Taylor, M.D., who is president of the American Society for Reproductive Medicine said in the news conference after the EHT et al v. FCC lawsuit win that, “ if I were someone who’s considering pregnancy, or someone who is pregnant or mother of a young child, I think it’s just important to move that cell phone away from you and not be exposed to that radiation any more than possible.” Taylor is also professor and chair of the Department of Obstetrics, Gynecology and Reproductive Sciences at Yale School of Medicine and chief of obstetrics and gynecology at Yale-New Haven Hospital. His research findings of damaged memory and hyperactivity in prenatally cell phone radiation exposed mice have been pivotal in demonstrating harm from RF radiation exposure.
Environmental Health Trust sued the US government Federal Communications Commission regarding their outdated cell phone and wireless safety limits. Last August, the U.S. Court of Appeals of the District of Columbia Circuit ruling in favor of Environmental Health Trust ordered the FCC to explain why it ignored scientific evidence showing harm from wireless radiation. Specifically the court held that FCC failed to respond to “record evidence that exposure to radio-frequency radiation at levels below the FCC’s current limits may cause negative health effects unrelated to cancer.” Environmental Health Trust and numerous other experts had submitted science showing impacts to sperm and fertility.
“The French government informs cell phone buyers to ‘keep away from the belly of pregnant women and keep away from the lower abdomen of adolescents,’”stated Theodora Scarato, executive director of Environmental Health Trust which hosts a list of over a dozen governments that recommend reducing cell phone radiation.
Environmental Health Trust has a campaign to protect fertility and shares a list of simple steps to reduce cell phone radiation including:
- Use speakerphone instead of holding the phone to your head
- Do not sleep with the cell phone.
- Do not carry the cell phone in a pocket or bra.
- Text instead of talk or video calls.
- Keep the cell phone at a distance from the body, instead of close to your chest, abdomen or lap
- Prefer a corded landline instead of a cell phone at home and work if possible.
- Set airplane mode on with Wi-Fi/Bluetooth/Cellular off more often.
- Minimize your overall wireless phone use.
Learn more about how to reduce wireless exposure at https://ehtrust.org/educate-yourself/10-things-you-can-do-to-reduce-the-cancer-risk-from-cell-phones/
For more information on Environmental Health Trust, visit www.ehtrust.org.
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About Environmental Health Trust
Founded in 2007, Environmental Health Trust, a 501(c)3 nonprofit, is a think tank that promotes a healthier environment through research, education and policy. EHT conducts cutting edge research on environmental health hazards and works with communities, health, education professionals and policymakers to understand and mitigate these hazards. Currently, EHT works with scientists, policymakers, teachers, parents and students to promote awareness on how to practice safe technology.
The Environmental Health Trust has worked on the issue of wireless radiation for over a decade submitting thousands of pages of evidence to the FCC in the years leading up to the court’s decision. EHT scientists testified in 2009 Senate hearings and 2008 congressional hearing on cell phone radiation- the last ever held. EHT scientists have continued to publish research on the health effects of non -ionizing electromagnetic radiation and organized numerous national and international scientific conferences on the issue. Visit www.ehtrust.org for more information.
