Effect of Radiofrequency Radiation Emitted by Modern Cellphones on Sperm Motility and Viability: An In Vitro Study

Abstract

Effect of Radiofrequency Radiation Emitted by Modern Cellphones on Sperm Motility and Viability: An In Vitro Study Chu KY, Khodamoradi K, Blachman-Braun R, Dullea A, Bidhan J, Campbell K, Zizzo J, Israeli J, Kim M, Petrella F, Ibrahim E, Ramasamy R. Effect of Radiofrequency Electromagnetic Radiation Emitted by Modern Cellphones on Sperm Motility and Viability: An In Vitro Study. Eur Urol Focus. 2023 Jan;9(1):69-74. doi: 10.1016/j.euf.2022.11.004. Abstract Background: Cellphones emit radiofrequency electromagnetic radiation (RF-EMR) for transmission of data for social media communication, web browsing, and music/podcast streaming. Use of Bluetooth earbuds has probably prolonged the time during which cellphones reside in the trouser pockets of men. It has been postulated that RF-EMR increases oxidative stress and induces free radical formation. Objective: To investigate the effect of wireless-spectrum (4G, 5G, and WiFi) RF-EMR emitted by modern smartphones on sperm motility and viability and explore whether these effects can be mitigated using a physical barrier or distance. Design, setting, and participants: Semen samples were obtained from fertile normozoospermic men aged 25-35 yr. A current-generation smartphone in talk mode was used as the RF-EMR source. A WhatsApp voice call was made using either 4G, 5G, or WiFi wireless connectivity. We determined if exposure effects were mitigated by either a cellphone case or greater distance from the semen sample. Outcome measurements and statistical analysis: The semen samples were analyzed according to 2010 World Health Organization laboratory guidelines. Statistical analysis was performed using SPSS v.28. Results and limitations: We observed decreases in sperm motility and viability with WiFi exposure but not with exposure to 4G or 5G RF-EMR. With large variability among smartphones, continued research on exposure effects is needed. Conclusions: Our exploratory study revealed that sperm motility and viability are negatively impacted by smartphones that use the WiFi spectrum for data transmission. Patient summary: We looked at the effect of cellphone use on sperm motility and viability. We found that cellphones using WiFi connectivity for data usage have harmful effects on semen quality in men. Excerpts Our study is not without limitations. First, our small sample size of 18 introduces potential sources of bias. We did not collect demographic data for these patients in order to maintain privacy, so the results may be subject to confounding bias. As the first of its kind at our institution, this small trial was a pilot study to validate our experimental model and procedures. We hope that further studies on the effects of RF-EMR on semen parameters can be performed on larger samples to validate our initial results. Second, we recognize that other potential variables, including temperature and radiation strength, could play a role in inducing changes in semen parameters. For this preliminary study, we were only interested in a single variable (radiation); future work should investigate the impact of temperature and radiation strength on changes in semen. This was an exploratory in vitro study, and further in vivo studies in animal models should be performed to further evaluate the impact of radiation on semen parameters. Conclusions Our study revealed that 4G/5G RF-EMR emitted by a contemporary cellphone did not have negative effects on sperm motility and viability. By contrast, WiFi exposure did have negative effects. During data use, there may be an increase in heat dissipated by a cellphone, depending on the power required to connect to the source. Interestingly, we observed varying effects of WiFi on sperm parameters, depending on the environment. We posit that a greater distance from the wireless router results in a need for more cellphone power, which may lead to greater heat production and result in negative effects on sperm motility and viability. Mitigation measures such as use of a cellphone case and increasing the distance between the cellphone and the sperm sample lessened the effects. Further studies need to be performed to better understand the effects of RF-EMR on sperm parameters. pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

AI evidence extraction

Main findings

In semen samples exposed in vitro to RF-EMR from a current-generation smartphone during a WhatsApp voice call, decreases in sperm motility and viability were observed with WiFi exposure but not with 4G or 5G exposure. The abstract notes that use of a cellphone case or greater distance from the sample lessened the effects, and that there was large variability among smartphones.

Outcomes measured

• Sperm motility
• Sperm viability

Limitations

• Small sample size (n=18) with potential bias
• No demographic data collected; possible confounding
• Other variables (eg, temperature and radiation strength) not assessed; could influence semen parameters
• Exploratory in vitro design; authors call for further in vivo/animal studies
• Large variability among smartphones

Suggested hubs

• mobile-phones (0.95)
  Exposure source is a modern smartphone in talk mode using 4G/5G/WiFi connectivity.

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    "study_type": "in_vitro",
    "exposure": {
        "band": "RF",
        "source": "mobile phone",
        "frequency_mhz": null,
        "sar_wkg": null,
        "duration": null
    },
    "population": "Fertile normozoospermic men aged 25–35 years (semen samples; in vitro exposure)",
    "sample_size": 18,
    "outcomes": [
        "Sperm motility",
        "Sperm viability"
    ],
    "main_findings": "In semen samples exposed in vitro to RF-EMR from a current-generation smartphone during a WhatsApp voice call, decreases in sperm motility and viability were observed with WiFi exposure but not with 4G or 5G exposure. The abstract notes that use of a cellphone case or greater distance from the sample lessened the effects, and that there was large variability among smartphones.",
    "effect_direction": "mixed",
    "limitations": [
        "Small sample size (n=18) with potential bias",
        "No demographic data collected; possible confounding",
        "Other variables (eg, temperature and radiation strength) not assessed; could influence semen parameters",
        "Exploratory in vitro design; authors call for further in vivo/animal studies",
        "Large variability among smartphones"
    ],
    "evidence_strength": "very_low",
    "confidence": 0.7800000000000000266453525910037569701671600341796875,
    "peer_reviewed_likely": "yes",
    "keywords": [
        "radiofrequency electromagnetic radiation",
        "RF-EMR",
        "cellphone",
        "smartphone",
        "4G",
        "5G",
        "WiFi",
        "WhatsApp voice call",
        "sperm motility",
        "sperm viability",
        "semen quality",
        "in vitro",
        "mitigation",
        "distance",
        "cellphone case"
    ],
    "suggested_hubs": [
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            "slug": "mobile-phones",
            "weight": 0.9499999999999999555910790149937383830547332763671875,
            "reason": "Exposure source is a modern smartphone in talk mode using 4G/5G/WiFi connectivity."
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