Effect Of Electromagnetic Waves Emitted From Mobile Phones On Male Fertility

With the increasing use of cell phones, there may be a potential response to the danger of electromagnetic radiation on humans and their offspring. The recent surge in global interest towards cell phones has given a new impetus to the development of natural disaster, which may or may not cause cancer or birth defects. The biological evaluation aims to explore the possibility of some new unknown effects of cell phones on sperm cells. While thermal effects are negligible at the current level of cell phone radiation, most biological interactions are attributed to non-thermal effects. The male reproductive system is a highly compartmentalized and sensitive biological system that requires the integration of internal and external factors to function properly. The generated electric currents can bring about changes in the hormonal milieu and testicular microenvironment necessary for spermatogenesis. Sperm are electrically active cells, can be affected in their motility, morphology and their number by the electric field generated by mobile phone electromagnetic waves and currents. Triggering the leakage of plasma membrane and the increase of Ca ions are other mechanisms of inducing oxidative stress due to microwave-driven changes in these two cell membrane functions. The harmful effects of mobile phone radiation on sperm and fertility in men arise through leaky plasma membrane, calcium depletion and oxidative stress in the cell. These findings have been substantiated with the help of designed animal and in vitro studies, which, however, may differ from in vivo human exposure. The way forward, as they further suggest, is to reach strict regulation regarding the increase in emitted cell phone radiation power density, and to study the solution by conducting in vivo human research on the negative effects of fertility from this source.

Introduction

In today’s society, modern man strives to become increasingly efficient. Our fast-paced lives have been the driving force behind huge technological innovations such as the Internet, email, and more recently the “smartphone.” Cell phones have become an important part of our lives, and as social pressure for optimal efficiency increases, so do the technological capabilities of cell phones. One aspect associated with recent innovations in cell phone technology that is often overlooked is the effect of these devices on human health, particularly male fertility. Recent innovations in cell phone technology may have a detrimental effect on male fertility, and may perhaps be an increasing factor contributing to male infertility. This article will focus on cell phones and analyze what recent innovations in technology mean for human reproductive health and male fertility. Essential topics of this article include a basic description of cell phone technology and the pathophysiological effects of radiation emitted from cell phone devices on testicular tissues and sperm function. In addition, an analysis of emerging clues from laboratory and human studies will be discussed, taking into account the controversy surrounding cell phone research. Finally, a broader view on upcoming reproductive outcomes related to cell phone technology will be discussed.

A Brief Overview Of The Physics And Biological Effects Of Cellular Phones

Cellular phones are devices that emit radio frequency, electromagnetic waves (RF-EMW) on the principle of a nearby base or antenna. Thus, our bodies work as antennas and are flooded with radiation that is converted into alternating eddy currents. Such RF ranges from about 800 MHz to 2200 MHz MHz, and this radiation is non-ionizing, as the energy it carries with our unique biological systems is quite low and will not be able to break chemical bonds. Of these, with regard to extremely high-frequency radiation such as X-rays, which carry energy in the range of 1,000,000 MHz, the energy is much higher and involves technical terms because extremely high-frequency electromagnetic waves have the energy to break complete chemical bonds in those particles and cause severe destruction to human tissue; this is known as ionizing radiation.

Our article will discuss the male reproductive hazards associated with low frequency electromagnetic waves produced by cell phone technology. When talking into a cell phone, the sound wave from the speaker passes through a transmitter that converts the sound into a sine wave. The transmitter then sends the signal to the antenna, which then sends it out into space in all directions. The transmitter in a cell phone operates on about 0.75 to 1 watt of power, with the maximum usage being 2 watts. This electrical sine wave current running through the transmitter circuit also creates an electromagnetic field around it. As the electrical current moves back and forth, the fields keep forming and collapsing, creating electromagnetic radiation. Thus, cell phone radiation is generated in the transmitter, and emitted through the antenna in the form of radio waves. Modern advancements in cell phone telecommunication systems have been associated with the increase in signal frequency, which deals with high energy radio frequency waves. The first advent of the early cell phone system was the analog NMT (Nordic Mobile Telephone) system which operated at 902.5 MHz in the 1980s. A decade later, it was succeeded by GSM (Global System of Mobile Communications), which operated at a radiofrequency of 902.4 MHz, pulsed at 217 MHz. The most recent DCS (Digital Cellular System) operates at a radiofrequency of 1800 MHz and has two additional low-frequency magnetic fields associated with it. In addition, specific countries differ in the frequency band at which radio waves are transmitted.

Most European and Asian countries’ networks operate at 850/900 MHz, while the United States’ network operates at 1800/1900 MHz. The higher the frequency the more energy the waves contain. With increasing globalization and the demand for international travel, there are now phones that can work in multiple countries, and are therefore considered “quad-band”, receiving all the signal frequencies 850/900/1800/1900 MHz. The effect of these radio frequency electromagnetic waves on the human body is measured through a standardized unit called the SAR value. SAR (Specific Absorption Rate) is a measure of the rate of radiofrequency energy absorption in the body and is calculated as watts/kg.

In 1996, the FCC directed that 1.6 watts per kilogram is the upper limit for SARs released from cell phones. All phone manufacturers had to begin placing labels disclosing the amount of radiation emitted from them in the year 2000. Since SAR is specified at peak power output, however, the actual value may be lower than the figures presented in the SAR due to a number of factors that determine it (such as: proximity to a cell site, proximity of the unit to the body during use, talk mode versus standby, and use with a hands-free device such as Bluetooth). On the other hand, each country has a specific government mechanism related to the regulation of devices that emit radiation. In the US, such entities include the American National Standards Institute (ANSI), a part of the Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers (IEEE), in coalition with the FCC and the US Environmental Protection Agency; In the United Kingdom, the National Radiological Protection Board (NRPB)—and in Brazil, the Agencia Nacional de Vigilancia Sanitaria (ANVISA). By creating regulations against the use of electronic devices and exposure to ionizing radiation, evaluation bulletins are issued by all of these agencies to show what the government’s view is on this.

How Do Cell Phones Affect Humans?

Radiation can generate electromagnetic waves (EMW) and the radiation around cell phones and microwave ovens may be part of this low frequency radiation which is in the frequency band of 300 MHz to a few GHz, which is much lower than high frequency EMW such as X-rays or gamma rays. The speed of EMW with light and its energy calculation depends on the frequency and wavelength. The energy carried as radiation is due to electric and magnetic fields. It would be better to describe it by the term power density (PD) and it is the amount of power per unit area in the radiated microwave field, which is largely expressed in milli- or microwatts per square centimeter (mW/cm2 or µW/cm2). However, the total energy carried through the wave in such radiations is so low that it usually cannot cause the breaking of bonds on the biological molecule scale. This radiation effect at cellular levels is called non-ionizing radiation and the high frequency EMW radiation effect is called ionizing radiation. Observations show that in general, exposure to EMW from various sources can be divided into two broad categories: “continuous” and “pulsed” exposure types according to the emitted wave. The biological effects observed with pulsed wave exposure are far more dangerous than with continuous wave and multiple sources. Generally, the electric field coupled with the magnetic field in EMW outside the biological system does not continue into the body.

Detected by the human body, radiation received from external sources is similar to a collection of parasites receiving EMW. Both electric fields and magnetic fields have the ability to induce an internal current as well as a field within the tissues of any substance. Yet the generated internal currents have significantly lower intensities and alternate directions than those observed externally. This change in strength and orientation reflects the electrical properties of the human body, such as permittivity and conductivity. Due to the essentially high content of water in it, in addition to other organic molecules and ions, human tissue must be characterized as a loose medium with dielectric properties. Dielectric molecules (dipoles) become polarized when exposed to living tissue in EMW, and the extent to which they become polarized is called permittivity. Conductivity, on the other hand, indicates the current density upwards of the conduction current produced by an applied field of electricity. The fact that the water content is extremely abundant makes the human body a relatively poor conductor of the applied electric current causing the dangerous flow. Unlike electricity, the applied magnetic field easily passes through the human skin, and such property is called permeability. Then, the magnetic field acts as another EMW-induced alternating current source inside the human body. Thermal and two nonthermal effects are the primary ways through which EMW interacts with biological systems, since both electrical and magnetic properties determine the culmination of these effects on the human body. We will deal with these particular effects with special emphasis on male reproductive cells.

1. Thermal effects on male reproductive organs

The regulation of core temperature in the testis depends mostly on surface conduction, but not on blood flow; like any deeply located organ, it is one of the potential targets of thermal exposure to RF-EMR. Given the fact that the testis is a superficial organ, the testis will receive a greater amount of energy from EMR than organs with the right or other setting. The human testis requires a temperature at least 2 degrees lower than body temperature as physiological temperature for optimal spermatogenesis, whereby an increase in testis temperature produces an opposite detrimental factor for sperm production. The effect of acute EMR exposure on the seminal tubular epithelium through an increase in testicular temperature has been shown by some authors. They subjected rats to 2.45 GHz (30 W/kg), 1.7 GHz (50 mW/cm2), and 2.45 GHz (44 W/kg) exposures and observed altered histology of the seminal tubular epithelium and deranged semen parameters such as sperm count and sperm morphology.

However, the amount of EMW energy in those studies was much higher than the EMW from the mobile phones we all carry in our pockets. Recent research has provided information that says that even at a few watts per kilogram, the thermal effect of EMW emitted from common commercial cellular phones is found to be negligible and the SAR is <2W/kg. <mark id=”p_8″>It has been estimated that SAR rates above 4W/kg can lead to a 1ºC increase in temperature rise. Yan et al. conducted an animal study on mice with somewhat higher radiation exposure – yet, they were more successful than others as their animal model showed extremely high temperature rise in response to EMW exposure. The exact core and surface temperatures of the mice were measured with precise electronic temperature probes placed very close to their faces and rectums. The authors were determined to study the subchronic effects of prolonged exposure to cell phones and illustrated highly variable responses in individual rectal temperatures and face temperatures. In other words, the rectal temperatures of both groups matched and the temperature readings of the experimental group exposed to 1.80 SAR for the full six hours of cell phone or (cellphone) radiation matched and did not differ from the temperature readings of the control group. Thus, at present, there is no clear evidence to prove whether cell phone induced radiation has a heat effect on the human body.

2. Non-thermal effects of cell phone radiation

This is not conclusive and involves various metabolic pathways mediated by the theory that oxidative stress acts as the main mediator in these pathways. However, direct damage has also been reported with RF-EMW.

Effects Of Radio-Frequency Radiation On Gross Health

Identification of the exact underlying pathophysiological mechanisms responsible for the health effects of cell phone use may be an important topic. Nevertheless, two possible major physiological effects of cell phone radiation on the human body were reported. First, “thermal effects” are those that occur at exceptionally high frequencies where radio-frequency radiation has heating properties. Therefore, it provokes changes that may lead to an increase in tissue or body temperature. In general, the suggestion of this type of effect is that it will pave the way for disruption of various cell functions and development. Tissue damage in humans – it may happen that the body is unable to dissipate the heat load due to overheating; the eyes and testes, in particular, are very sensitive because these tissues have low evaporative cooling due to limited perfusion by blood. Thus, the male and female reproductive systems are at greater risk from tests because their air-cooling system is pathetic. The second of the two is called the “non-thermal effect” and is reflected in the disturbance of membrane integrity through an eddy current that is set up and created within the body as the body absorbs the EMW electrical shocks and some other factors that pass through cell pores. According to the mode of action of RF-EMW, the action is probably a combination of thermal and nonthermal effects.

Most studies have shown that cell phones have quite a remarkable effect on the general health of the human body. Changes in EEG, sleep patterns and neuroendocrine functions have been reported to be a result of cell phone use. Additionally, cell phone use has been reported to result in difficulty in concentration, fatigue and headaches. Cell phone use may also be associated with increased blood pressure, while it has been proven that even very low EMW exposure can alter hormone secretion such as follicle-stimulating hormone by causing deformation of Leydig and Sertoli cells and thus affecting cell proliferation… It has not been clarified why these EMWs bring about these changes; “but so far, there is very strong evidence that they reduce the overall function of the body.”

Read Also:

1. The History And Evolution Of Cell Phones
2. Radio Frequency Radiation and Cell Phones
3. Research On The Long-Term Effects Of Radiation Emitted From Mobile Phones On Kidney Cells
4. Mobile Phones: The Fastest Growing Digital Devices In Emerging Markets
5. Cyber Threats To Mobile Phones

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