Effect of electromagnetic field exposure on the reproductive system.

PAPER pubmed Clinical and experimental reproductive medicine 2012 Review Effect: harm Evidence: Insufficient

Read original paper → DOI: 10.5653/cerm.2012.39.1.1 PMID: 22563544 Evidence Lab

Abstract

The safety of human exposure to an ever-increasing number and diversity of electromagnetic field (EMF) sources both at work and at home has become a public health issue. To date, many in vivo and in vitro studies have revealed that EMF exposure can alter cellular homeostasis, endocrine function, reproductive function, and fetal development in animal systems. Reproductive parameters reported to be altered by EMF exposure include male germ cell death, the estrous cycle, reproductive endocrine hormones, reproductive organ weights, sperm motility, early embryonic development, and pregnancy success. At the cellular level, an increase in free radicals and [Ca(2+)]i may mediate the effect of EMFs and lead to cell growth inhibition, protein misfolding, and DNA breaks. The effect of EMF exposure on reproductive function differs according to frequency and wave, strength (energy), and duration of exposure. In the present review, the effects of EMFs on reproductive function are summarized according to the types of EMF, wave type, strength, and duration of exposure at cellular and organism levels.

AI evidence extraction

At a glance

Study type

Review

Effect direction

harm

Population

—

Sample size

—

Exposure

Evidence strength

Insufficient

Confidence: 66% · Peer-reviewed: yes

Main findings

This review summarizes in vivo and in vitro evidence (primarily in animal systems) reporting that EMF exposure can alter cellular homeostasis, endocrine and reproductive function, and fetal development. Reported altered reproductive parameters include male germ cell death, estrous cycle changes, hormone changes, organ weight changes, reduced sperm motility, effects on early embryonic development, and pregnancy success; proposed cellular mediators include increased free radicals and intracellular Ca2+ leading to growth inhibition, protein misfolding, and DNA breaks. The review notes that effects differ by frequency/wave type, strength (energy), and duration of exposure.

Outcomes measured

cellular homeostasis
endocrine function
reproductive function
fetal development
male germ cell death
estrous cycle
reproductive endocrine hormones
reproductive organ weights
sperm motility
early embryonic development
pregnancy success
free radicals
intracellular Ca2+ ([Ca(2+)]i)
cell growth inhibition
protein misfolding
DNA breaks

Suggested hubs

occupational-exposure (0.35)
Abstract mentions EMF sources at work as part of the exposure context.

View raw extracted JSON

{
    "study_type": "review",
    "exposure": {
        "band": null,
        "source": null,
        "frequency_mhz": null,
        "sar_wkg": null,
        "duration": null
    },
    "population": null,
    "sample_size": null,
    "outcomes": [
        "cellular homeostasis",
        "endocrine function",
        "reproductive function",
        "fetal development",
        "male germ cell death",
        "estrous cycle",
        "reproductive endocrine hormones",
        "reproductive organ weights",
        "sperm motility",
        "early embryonic development",
        "pregnancy success",
        "free radicals",
        "intracellular Ca2+ ([Ca(2+)]i)",
        "cell growth inhibition",
        "protein misfolding",
        "DNA breaks"
    ],
    "main_findings": "This review summarizes in vivo and in vitro evidence (primarily in animal systems) reporting that EMF exposure can alter cellular homeostasis, endocrine and reproductive function, and fetal development. Reported altered reproductive parameters include male germ cell death, estrous cycle changes, hormone changes, organ weight changes, reduced sperm motility, effects on early embryonic development, and pregnancy success; proposed cellular mediators include increased free radicals and intracellular Ca2+ leading to growth inhibition, protein misfolding, and DNA breaks. The review notes that effects differ by frequency/wave type, strength (energy), and duration of exposure.",
    "effect_direction": "harm",
    "limitations": [],
    "evidence_strength": "insufficient",
    "confidence": 0.66000000000000003108624468950438313186168670654296875,
    "peer_reviewed_likely": "yes",
    "keywords": [
        "electromagnetic field",
        "EMF",
        "reproductive system",
        "endocrine function",
        "sperm motility",
        "embryonic development",
        "pregnancy",
        "free radicals",
        "calcium",
        "DNA breaks",
        "animal studies",
        "in vivo",
        "in vitro"
    ],
    "suggested_hubs": [
        {
            "slug": "occupational-exposure",
            "weight": 0.34999999999999997779553950749686919152736663818359375,
            "reason": "Abstract mentions EMF sources at work as part of the exposure context."
        }
    ]
}

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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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