Effect of Electromagnetic Waves from Mobile Phones on Spermatogenesis in the Era of 4G-LTE.

PAPER pubmed BioMed research international 2018 Animal study Effect: harm Evidence: Low

Read original paper → DOI: 10.1155/2018/1801798 PMID: 29789776 Evidence Lab

Abstract

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the effect of long duration exposure to electromagnetic field from mobile phones on spermatogenesis in rats using 4G-LTE. METHODS: Twenty Sprague-Dawley male rats were placed into 4 groups according to the intensity and exposure duration: Group 1 (sham procedure), Group 2 (3 cm distance + 6 h exposure daily), Group 3 (10 cm distance + 18 h exposure daily), and Group 4 (3 cm distance + 18 h exposure daily). After 1 month, we compared sperm parameters and histopathological findings of the testis. RESULTS: The mean spermatid count (×10/ml) was 398.6 in Group 1, 365.40 in Group 2, 354.60 in Group 3, and 298.60 in Group 4 ( = 0.041). In the second review, the mean count of spermatogonia in Group 4 (43.00) was significantly lower than in Group 1 (57.00) and Group 2 (53.40) ( < 0.001 and = 0.010, resp.). The sum of the germ cell counts was decreased in Group 4 compared to Groups 1, 2, and 3 ( = 0.032). The mean Leydig cell count was significantly decreased in Group 4 ( < 0.001). CONCLUSIONS: The longer exposure duration of electromagnetic field decreased the spermatogenesis. Our findings warrant further investigations on the potential effects of EMF from mobile phones on male fertility.

AI evidence extraction

At a glance

Study type

Animal study

Effect direction

harm

Population

Sprague-Dawley male rats

Sample size

Exposure

RF mobile phone · 6 h/day or 18 h/day for 1 month

Evidence strength

Low

Confidence: 78% · Peer-reviewed: yes

Main findings

After 1 month of exposure to 4G-LTE mobile phone electromagnetic field, spermatid counts differed across groups (p=0.041) and were lowest in the 3 cm + 18 h/day group. Spermatogonia count, total germ cell counts, and Leydig cell count were significantly decreased in the longest/closest exposure group compared with sham and/or shorter exposure groups.

Outcomes measured

Spermatid count
Spermatogonia count
Sum of germ cell counts
Leydig cell count
Histopathological findings of the testis
Sperm parameters

Limitations

Small sample size (20 rats total)
Frequency and SAR not reported in abstract
Exposure described by distance and hours/day; intensity metrics not provided
Short follow-up duration (1 month)

Suggested hubs

mobile-phones (0.9)
Study evaluates EMF exposure from mobile phones (4G-LTE) and reproductive outcomes.

View raw extracted JSON

{
    "study_type": "animal",
    "exposure": {
        "band": "RF",
        "source": "mobile phone",
        "frequency_mhz": null,
        "sar_wkg": null,
        "duration": "6 h/day or 18 h/day for 1 month"
    },
    "population": "Sprague-Dawley male rats",
    "sample_size": 20,
    "outcomes": [
        "Spermatid count",
        "Spermatogonia count",
        "Sum of germ cell counts",
        "Leydig cell count",
        "Histopathological findings of the testis",
        "Sperm parameters"
    ],
    "main_findings": "After 1 month of exposure to 4G-LTE mobile phone electromagnetic field, spermatid counts differed across groups (p=0.041) and were lowest in the 3 cm + 18 h/day group. Spermatogonia count, total germ cell counts, and Leydig cell count were significantly decreased in the longest/closest exposure group compared with sham and/or shorter exposure groups.",
    "effect_direction": "harm",
    "limitations": [
        "Small sample size (20 rats total)",
        "Frequency and SAR not reported in abstract",
        "Exposure described by distance and hours/day; intensity metrics not provided",
        "Short follow-up duration (1 month)"
    ],
    "evidence_strength": "low",
    "confidence": 0.7800000000000000266453525910037569701671600341796875,
    "peer_reviewed_likely": "yes",
    "keywords": [
        "4G-LTE",
        "mobile phone",
        "electromagnetic field",
        "rats",
        "spermatogenesis",
        "male fertility",
        "testis histopathology",
        "Leydig cells",
        "germ cells"
    ],
    "suggested_hubs": [
        {
            "slug": "mobile-phones",
            "weight": 0.90000000000000002220446049250313080847263336181640625,
            "reason": "Study evaluates EMF exposure from mobile phones (4G-LTE) and reproductive outcomes."
        }
    ]
}

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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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