Radiation and male fertility

Abstract

Radiation and male fertility Kesari KK, Agarwal A, Henkel R. Radiations and male fertility. Reprod Biol Endocrinol. 2018 Dec 9;16(1):118. doi: 10.1186/s12958-018-0431-1. Abstract During recent years, an increasing percentage of male infertility has to be attributed to an array of environmental, health and lifestyle factors. Male infertility is likely to be affected by the intense exposure to heat and extreme exposure to pesticides, radiations, radioactivity and other hazardous substances. We are surrounded by several types of ionizing and non-ionizing radiations and both have recognized causative effects on spermatogenesis. Since it is impossible to cover all types of radiation sources and their biological effects under a single title, this review is focusing on radiation deriving from cell phones, laptops, Wi-Fi and microwave ovens, as these are the most common sources of non-ionizing radiations, which may contribute to the cause of infertility by exploring the effect of exposure to radiofrequency radiations on the male fertility pattern. From currently available studies it is clear that radiofrequency electromagnetic fields (RF-EMF) have deleterious effects on sperm parameters (like sperm count, morphology, motility), affects the role of kinases in cellular metabolism and the endocrine system, and produces genotoxicity, genomic instability and oxidative stress. This is followed with protective measures for these radiations and future recommendations. The study concludes that the RF-EMF may induce oxidative stress with an increased level of reactive oxygen species, which may lead to infertility. This has been concluded based on available evidences from in vitro and in vivo studies suggesting that RF-EMF exposure negatively affects sperm quality. Open access paper: rbej.biomedcentral.com

AI evidence extraction

Main findings

This review focuses on non-ionizing RF-EMF exposures from common sources (cell phones, laptops, Wi-Fi, microwave ovens) and states that available in vitro and in vivo studies suggest deleterious effects on sperm parameters (count, morphology, motility). It further reports that RF-EMF exposure may induce oxidative stress with increased reactive oxygen species and is associated in the reviewed literature with genotoxicity and genomic instability.

Outcomes measured

• sperm parameters (count, morphology, motility)
• spermatogenesis
• kinases in cellular metabolism
• endocrine system effects
• genotoxicity
• genomic instability
• oxidative stress
• reactive oxygen species (ROS)

Limitations

• No specific frequencies, SAR levels, or exposure durations are reported in the abstract.
• Findings are summarized from existing in vitro and in vivo studies; no primary study methods or quality assessment details are provided in the abstract.
• The abstract does not describe inclusion/exclusion criteria or a systematic search approach.

Suggested hubs

• school-wi-fi (0.42)
  Review includes Wi-Fi as a common RF-EMF source discussed in relation to male fertility.

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