Exploring the impact of environmental factors on male reproductive health through epigenetics

PAPER manual Reproductive Toxicology 2025 Review Effect: harm Evidence: Insufficient

Read original paper → DOI: 10.1016/j.reprotox.2025.108832 PMID: 39778664 Evidence Lab

Abstract

Category: Reproductive Toxicology, Epigenetics Tags: male infertility, epigenetics, electromagnetic radiation, sperm quality, environmental factors, DNA methylation, oxidative stress DOI: 10.1016/j.reprotox.2025.108832 URL: pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov Overview Male infertility has escalated as a significant global health concern over recent decades, with its prevalence notably increasing. This narrative review examines the pivotal role of epigenetics in male reproductive health, particularly emphasizing the influence of DNA methylation, histone modifications, chromatin remodeling, and non-coding RNA regulation on spermatogenesis. Environmental Factors Examined - Heavy metals (Zinc, Cadmium, Arsenic, Copper) - Phthalates - Electromagnetic radiation - Temperature Findings Environmental exposures can induce sperm DNA damage and cause epigenetic abnormalities. Key points include: - Aberrant DNA methylation correlates strongly with symptoms of male infertility. - Histone modifications and chromatin remodeling are essential for sperm maturation and function. - Electromagnetic radiation, particularly from mobile phones and wireless devices, reduces sperm count and motility, increases oxidative stress, and causes damage to chromatin via heat shock protein phosphorylation. - Radiofrequency radiation can significantly reduce sperm quality, progressive motility, and normal morphology. Conclusion Through a synthesis of literature and experimental data, this review delineates how environmental factors—especially electromagnetic fields—impact male reproductive health via epigenetic mechanisms. Practical guidelines are suggested, such as avoiding placement of mobile phones near the testes, to reduce risk. The findings reinforce a substantive connection between electromagnetic field exposure and adverse outcomes in male reproductive health, underlining the importance of EMF safety for fertility preservation.

AI evidence extraction

At a glance

Study type

Review

Effect direction

harm

Population

—

Sample size

—

Exposure

RF mobile phone, wireless devices

Evidence strength

Insufficient

Confidence: 74% · Peer-reviewed: yes

Main findings

This narrative review reports that environmental exposures can induce sperm DNA damage and epigenetic abnormalities associated with male infertility. It states that electromagnetic radiation (including radiofrequency radiation) from mobile phones and wireless devices is associated with reduced sperm count and motility, reduced sperm quality (including progressive motility and normal morphology), increased oxidative stress, and chromatin damage via heat shock protein phosphorylation.

Outcomes measured

male infertility
spermatogenesis
sperm DNA damage
epigenetic abnormalities
DNA methylation
histone modifications
chromatin remodeling
non-coding RNA regulation
sperm count
sperm motility
progressive motility
sperm morphology
oxidative stress
chromatin damage
heat shock protein phosphorylation

Suggested hubs

who-icnirp (0.25)
Review discusses EMF safety guidance implications (practical guidelines suggested), though no specific bodies are named.

View raw extracted JSON

{
    "study_type": "review",
    "exposure": {
        "band": "RF",
        "source": "mobile phone, wireless devices",
        "frequency_mhz": null,
        "sar_wkg": null,
        "duration": null
    },
    "population": null,
    "sample_size": null,
    "outcomes": [
        "male infertility",
        "spermatogenesis",
        "sperm DNA damage",
        "epigenetic abnormalities",
        "DNA methylation",
        "histone modifications",
        "chromatin remodeling",
        "non-coding RNA regulation",
        "sperm count",
        "sperm motility",
        "progressive motility",
        "sperm morphology",
        "oxidative stress",
        "chromatin damage",
        "heat shock protein phosphorylation"
    ],
    "main_findings": "This narrative review reports that environmental exposures can induce sperm DNA damage and epigenetic abnormalities associated with male infertility. It states that electromagnetic radiation (including radiofrequency radiation) from mobile phones and wireless devices is associated with reduced sperm count and motility, reduced sperm quality (including progressive motility and normal morphology), increased oxidative stress, and chromatin damage via heat shock protein phosphorylation.",
    "effect_direction": "harm",
    "limitations": [],
    "evidence_strength": "insufficient",
    "confidence": 0.7399999999999999911182158029987476766109466552734375,
    "peer_reviewed_likely": "yes",
    "keywords": [
        "male infertility",
        "epigenetics",
        "electromagnetic radiation",
        "radiofrequency radiation",
        "mobile phones",
        "wireless devices",
        "sperm quality",
        "DNA methylation",
        "oxidative stress",
        "chromatin damage"
    ],
    "suggested_hubs": [
        {
            "slug": "who-icnirp",
            "weight": 0.25,
            "reason": "Review discusses EMF safety guidance implications (practical guidelines suggested), though no specific bodies are named."
        }
    ]
}

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AI-extracted fields are generated from the abstract/metadata and may be incomplete or incorrect. This content is for informational purposes only and is not medical advice.

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