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Cell phone use and male fertility: An environmental pollutant

Oct 17, 2023

Commentary “Mobile cell phone use and impact on male fertility potential: an environmental pollutant that needs more research”  published in Fertility and Sterility

Excerpts:

“It has been quite remarkable how cell phones have evolved since the announcement of the first Apple iPhone in June 2007. Initially developed as a mobile telephone, vast improvements in computing chips and wireless data networks have allowed for cell phones to become powerful portable computing devices. Newer technologies such as Bluetooth headphones and smartwatches now can relegate phones to our pockets, acting as mobile servers to deliver information packets instead of being primary interaction devices. One noteworthy byproduct of this technological evolution is the burgeoning radiofrequency-electromagnetic radiation (RFEMR) exposure resulting from increased use of these devices. RF-EMR can be considered an environmental pollutant, and naturally over the years there have been questions about its potential implications, particularly when it comes to its effects on fertility potential. In male fertility, semen analyses have been used as surrogate markers for male fertility potential. In this context, the exploration of the effects of cell phone usage on sperm characteristics takes on paramount importance.”

“Over the past decade, there has been a growing body of literature examining the possible effects of cell phones on sperm quality. We recently performed an exploratory study on the in vitro consequences of contemporary cell phone radiation on semen parameters. We subjected ejaculated semen samples from normozoospermic men to the impact of active voice calls conducted via 4G, 5G, and WiFi data transmission. We observed a decline in sperm motility and viability following exposure to WiFi signals, while not observing these effects in 4G or 5G transmission. Notably, the extent of this impact varied based on factors such as the proximity to the phone and the presence of potential shielding measures (1). An important limitation of our study was the fact that our studies were carried on ejaculated sperm (in vitro), when it is logical that effect of cellular phones during the time of spermatogenesis in the testes and epididymis (in vivo) are the point of clinical importance.”

Chu KY, Petrella F, Bidhan J. Commentary: Mobile cell phone use and impact on male fertility potential: an environmental pollutant that needs more research. Fertil Steril. 2023 Oct 13:S0015-0282(23)01941-6. doi: 10.1016/j.fertnstert.2023.10.019. Epub ahead of print. PMID: 37839725.

 

 

More About Cell Phones and Sperm

More Scientific Research To Know 

Fertility and Reproduction 

Adams, J. A., Galloway, T. S., Mondal, D., Esteves, S. C., & Mathews, F. (2014). Effect of mobile telephones on sperm quality: A systematic review and meta-analysis. Environment International, 70, 106–112.

 

Chen, H.-G., Wu, P., Sun, B., Chen, J.-X., Xiong, C.-L., Meng, T.-Q., Huang, X.-Y., Su, Q.-L., Zhou, H., Wang, Y.-X., Ye, W., & Pan, A. (2022). Association between electronic device usage and sperm quality parameters in healthy men screened as potential sperm donors. Environmental Pollution (Barking, Essex: 1987), 312, 120089. 

 

Chu KY, Khodamoradi K, Dullea A, Ramasamy R. Swipe Right on Male Infertility: Effect of cell phone radiation on sperm motility. Fertility and Sterility. 118(5 Suppl):e38-e39. 2022.  

 

Desai, N.R., Kesari, K.K. & Agarwal, A. Pathophysiology of cell phone radiation: oxidative stress and carcinogenesis with focus on male reproductive system. Reprod Biol Endocrinol 7, 114 (2009).

 

Esmailzadeh, S., Delavar, M. A., Aleyassin, A., Gholamian, S. A., & Ahmadi, A. (2019). Exposure to Electromagnetic Fields of High Voltage Overhead Power Lines and Female Infertility. The International Journal of Occupational and Environmental Medicine, 10(1), 11–16. 

 

Hassanzadeh-Taheri, M., Khalili, M. A., Hosseininejad Mohebati, A., Zardast, M., Hosseini, M., Palmerini, M. G., & Doostabadi, M. R. (2022). The detrimental effect of cell phone radiation on sperm biological characteristics in normozoospermic. Andrologia, 54(1), e14257.

 

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Jangid, P., Rai, U., Sharma, R. S., & Singh, R. (2022). The role of non-ionizing electromagnetic radiation on female fertility: A review. International Journal of Environmental Health Research, 0(0), 1–16.

 

Kesari, K. K., & Behari, J. (2010). Effects of microwave at 2.45 GHz radiations on reproductive system of male rats. Toxicological & Environmental Chemistry, 92(6), 1135–1147. 

 

Maluin, S. M., Osman, K., Jaffar, F. H. F., & Ibrahim, S. F. (2021). Effect of Radiation Emitted by Wireless Devices on Male Reproductive Hormones: A Systematic Review. Frontiers in Physiology, 12.

 

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Zhang, G., Yan, H., Chen, Q., Liu, K., Ling, X., Sun, L., Zhou, N., Wang, Z., Zou, P., Wang, X., Tan, L., Cui, Z., Zhou, Z., Liu, J., Ao, L., & Cao, J. (2016). Effects of cell phone use on semen parameters: Results from the MARHCS cohort study in Chongqing, China. Environment International, 91, 116–121.