Long-term effects of 900 MHz radiofrequency radiation emitted from mobile phone on testicular tissue and epididymal semen quality

Abstract

The purpose of this study is to bridge this gap by investigating effects of long term 900 MHz mobile phone exposure on reproductive organs of male rats. The study was carried out on 14 adult Wistar Albino rats by dividing them randomly into two groups (n: 7) as sham group and exposure group. Rats were exposed to 900 MHz radiofrequency (RF) radiation emitted from a GSM signal generator. Point, 1 g and 10 g specific absorption rate (SAR) levels of testis and prostate were found as 0.0623 W/kg, 0.0445 W/kg and 0.0373 W/kg, respectively. The rats in the exposure group were subject to RF radiation 3 h per day (7 d a week) for one year. For the sham group, the same procedure was applied, except the generator was turned off. At the end of the study, epididymal sperm concentration, progressive sperm motility, abnormal sperm rate, all-genital organs weights and testis histopathology were evaluated. Any differences were not observed in sperm motility and concentration (p > 0.05). However, the morphologically normal spermatozoa rates were found higher in the exposure group (p < 0.05). Although histological examination showed similarity in the seminiferous tubules diameters in both groups, tunica albuginea thickness and the Johnsen testicular biopsy score were found lower in the exposure group (p < 0.05, p < 0.0001). In conclusion, we claim that long-term exposure of 900 MHz RF radiation alter some reproductive parameters. However, more supporting evidence and research is definitely needed on this topic.

The effects of radiofrequency electromagnetic radiation on sperm function

“…Indeed, in a majority of studies reporting negative impacts of RF-EMR on sperm motility (64%), the study design featured the use of isolated human spermatozoa that were exposed to RF-EMR via a mobile phone device. In contrast, at least half of the instances in which no effect was recorded on sperm motility, the studies involved whole-body animal exposure using a signal generator to produce the RF-EMR (Aitken et al 2005, Trosic et al 2013, Tas et al 2014. Although these data further lend support to our proposal of spermatozoa as a sensitive model, they also highlight that in vivo, the body may be capable of absorbing some of this radiation (Fig.…”

“…In general, these data lend support to the notion that RF-EMR can significantly impair key aspects of sperm function including the motility and vitality of these cells and the integrity of their DNA (Table 1), suggesting a direct effect on mature spermatozoa. However, there is less compelling evidence to suggest an additional role at the level of spermatogenesis in reducing sperm counts in vivo (Imai et al 2011, Tas et al 2014. Indeed, a chronic, multigenerational study demonstrated RF-EMR to have no effects on sperm production and testicular or epididymal weight (Sommer et al 2009).…”

“…To add further difficulty to the interpretation of these data, a subsequent study by the same authors (Dasdag et al 2003), reported no changes to testis structure after a similar RF-EMR exposure time of 20 min every day for one month. In addition to potential impacts on the diameter of the seminiferous tubules, chronic exposure (3 h per day for one year) of rats to RF-EMR reportedly elicited a reduction in the thickness of the tunica albuginea (Tas et al 2014). Prolonged exposures (6 h daily over a 100-day period) have also been associated with patterns of sperm aggregation that were absent from unexposed rats and independent of any impact on sperm morphology (Yan et al 2007).…”

“…Nevertheless, these studies must be considered alongside others in which the presence of RF-EMR had no overt effect on either progressive (Tas et al 2014) or overall sperm motility (Aitken et al 2005, Imai et al 2011, Trosic et al 2013. A possible explanation for such inconsistencies in the effects of RF-EMR on sperm motility rests with the use of different exposure conditions.…”

Oxidative effects of extremely low frequency magnetic field and radio frequency radiation on testes tissues of diabetic and healthy rats

“…They also stated that the weights of testis, epididymis, prostate and vesiculoseminalis did not change, and there was not a statistically signifi cant difference in sperm concentration and motility (23). Again, in another study, following the exposure of 1900 MHz RF radiation for 60 minutes/day for a period of 14 days, expansion in seminiferous tubule, karyomegaly in some spermatogenic nuclei and degeneration of non-spermatozoa seminiferous tubules were observed (24).…”