Medical/biological study (experimental study)

The influence of direct mobile phone radiation on sperm quality med./bio.

By: Gorpinchenko I, Nikitin O, Banyra O, Shulyak A

Published in: Cent European J Urol 2014; 67 (1): 65-71

Aim of study (acc. to author)

The effects of an acute in vitro exposure to a 900/1800 MHz GSM electromagnetic field on human sperms should be investigated.

Background/further details

32 healthy men with normal sperm parameters donated a sperm sample, respectively. First, each sample was incubated for 1 hour without exposure and subsequently the test parameters were measured for the first time. Subsequently, the samples were divided equally into two portions, A and B. Portions A of all participants were used as control, portions B were exposed.

Endpoint

effects on the reproductive system: sperm parameter

Exposure

- 900–1,800 MHz
- mobile communications
- mobile phone
- GSM

Exposure	Parameters
Exposure 1: 900–1,800 MHz Modulation type: pulsed Exposure duration: intermittent every 10 minutes for 5 hours (standby mode with outgoing calls every 10 minutes)	-

Exposure 1

Main characteristics

Frequency	900–1,800 MHz
Type	electromagnetic field
Exposure duration	intermittent every 10 minutes for 5 hours (standby mode with outgoing calls every 10 minutes)

Modulation

Modulation type	pulsed
Repetition frequency	217 Hz

Exposure setup

Exposure source	cellular phone
Distance between exposed object and exposure source	5 cm
Chamber	exposure and control samples were placed in two separate incubators (temperature at 27 °C)
Setup	exposure incubator was equipped with mobile phone as exposure source; mobile phone was placed 5 cm away from the samples and was turned on
Sham exposure	A sham exposure was conducted.

Parameters

No parameters are specified for this exposure.

Exposed system:

intact cell/cell culture
human spermatozoa

Methods Endpoint/measurement parameters/methodology

genotoxicity/mutation: DNA-fragmentation in sperms (measurement every hour in exposure group; sperm chromatin dispersion (SCD) test with specific DNA strand break kit, light microscopy)
cell function: sperm vitality and motility parameters according to WHO specifications (volume, sperm concentration, vitality, progressive motility, non-progressive motility, immotility, normal morphology, dead sperms)
effects on the reproductive system: see "genotoxicity/mutation" and "cell function"
morphol./histopathol. changes: see "cell function"

Investigated system:

Time of investigation:

before exposure
during exposure
after exposure

Main outcome of study (acc. to author)

DNA fragmentation and non-progressive motility were significantly increased, whereas progressive motility was significantly reduced in exposed sperm samples compared to control.
The authors conclude that an acute in vitro exposure of human sperms to a 900/1800 MHz GSM electromagnetic field influences sperm motility and DNA fragmentation and that further long-term investigations are needed to evaluate possible consequences for male fertility.

Study character:

medical/biological study
experimental study
full/main study

Study funded by

not stated/no funding

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