Medical/biological study (experimental study)

Effects of exposure to a mobile phone on testicular function and structure in adult rabbit. (RETRACTED) retracted

By: Salama N, Kishimoto T, Kanayama HO

Published in: Int J Androl 2010; 33 (1): 88-94

To study the accumulating effects of exposure to mobile phone emission (12 weeks, 8 h daily, standby position) on testicular function and structure of rabbits. (The study was retracted by publisher (Rajpert-De Meyts 2012).)

24 adult male rabbits were randomly and equally divided into three groups: 1) mobile phone exposure, 2) sham exposure group, and 3) cage control group. Semen analysis and sperm function tests were conducted weekly.

Exposure	Parameters
Exposure 1: 800 MHz Modulation type: pulsed Exposure duration: repeated daily exposure, 8 h/day, for 12 weeks	electric field strength: 2.92 V/m mean (at 0.5 cm) electric field strength: 0.487 V/m mean (at the most distant region inside the cage) SAR: 0.43 W/kg average over mass (whole body) (FDTD)

Frequency	800 MHz
Type	electromagnetic field
Charakteristic	near field
Exposure duration	repeated daily exposure, 8 h/day, for 12 weeks

Modulation type	pulsed
Additional info	GSM

Exposure source	cellular phone in standby
Chamber	Rabbits were individually placed in cages of 50 x 25 x 35 cm without bedding material and were restricted in their movements by plastic partitions according to their sizes averaging 30 x 16 x 18 cm.
Setup	Rabbits were exposed sitting down with their testes opposite to the antenna of the mobile phone fixed at the cage bottom.
Sham exposure	A sham exposure was conducted.

Measurand	Value	Type	Method	Mass	Remarks
electric field strength	2.92 V/m	mean	estimated	-	at 0.5 cm
electric field strength	0.487 V/m	mean	estimated	-	at the most distant region inside the cage
SAR	0.43 W/kg	average over mass	estimated	whole body	FDTD

For both control groups, the cages were positioned 7 m away and the average field strength was equivalent to background radiation (0.18 V/m).

Exposed system:

Investigated system:

Investigated organ system:

Time of investigation:

Compared to the control groups (groups 2 and 3) a decrease in the sperm concentration appeared in the exposure group at week 6. This became statistically significant at week 8. There was no difference in motile sperm population amongst the three groups until week 10 when it declined significantly in the exposure and sham exposure groups (with more significant decline in the mobile phone exposed animals). Histological examination showed also a significant decrease in the diameter of seminiferous tubules in the mobile phone exposure group versus the two control groups. The other study parameters did not show any difference.
In conclusion, low intensity pulsed radiofrequency emitted by a conventional mobile phone kept in the standby position could affect the testicular function and structure in adult rabbits.

Study character:

Salama N et al. (2012): Retraction. Effects of exposure to a mobile phone on testicular function and structure in adult rabbit

Salama N et al. (2012): Retraction. Effects of exposure to a mobile phone on testicular function and structure in adult rabbit
Lerchl A et al. (2010): Letter to the Editor on 'Effects of exposure to a mobile phone on testicular function and structure in adult rabbit' by Salama et al
Salama N et al. (2010): Authors response on Letter to the Editor on 'Effects of exposure to a mobile phone on testicular function and structure in adult Rabbit' by Salama et al