Mobile phone radiation induces reactive oxygen species production and DNA damage in human spermatozoa in vitro

• Published in: PloS one 2009-07, Vol.4 (7), p.e6446
• Main Authors: De Iuliis, Geoffry N, Newey, Rhiannon J, King, Bruce V, Aitken, R John
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Abortion; Analysis; Antioxidants; Antioxidants (Nutrients); Bioindicators; Biomarkers; Cancer; Cell Biology/Cellular Death and Stress Responses; Cell Biology/Chemical Biology of the Cell; Cell culture; Cell Phone; Cell phones; Cellular telephones; Children; Deoxyribonucleic acid; DNA; DNA adducts; DNA Damage; DNA fragmentation; DNA Fragmentation - radiation effects; Electromagnetic Fields; Electromagnetic induction; Electromagnetic radiation; Electromagnetism; Enzymes; Exposure; Fertility; Fertilization; Fragmentation; Free radicals; Humans; Infertility; Life sciences; Male; Males; Miscarriage; Mitochondria; Molecular Biology/Chromatin Structure; Morbidity; Motility; Offspring; Oxidative Stress; Oxygen; Public Health and Epidemiology/Environmental Health; Radiation; Radiation damage; Radio frequency; Reactive oxygen species; Reactive Oxygen Species - metabolism; Rodents; Semen; Sperm; Spermatozoa; Spermatozoa - radiation effects; Studies; Substrates; Urology/Infertility; Wireless telephones
• ISSN: 1932-6203; 1932-6203
• DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0006446

In recent times there has been some controversy over the impact of electromagnetic radiation on human health. The significance of mobile phone radiation on male reproduction is a key element of this debate since several studies have suggested a relationship between mobile phone use and semen quality. The potential mechanisms involved have not been established, however, human spermatozoa are known to be particularly vulnerable to oxidative stress by virtue of the abundant availability of substrates for free radical attack and the lack of cytoplasmic space to accommodate antioxidant enzymes. Moreover, the induction of oxidative stress in these cells not only perturbs their capacity for fertilization but also contributes to sperm DNA damage. The latter has, in turn, been linked with poor fertility, an increased incidence of miscarriage and morbidity in the offspring, including childhood cancer. In light of these associations, we have analyzed the influence of RF-EMR on the cell biology of human spermatozoa in vitro. Purified human spermatozoa were exposed to radio-frequency electromagnetic radiation (RF-EMR) tuned to 1.8 GHz and covering a range of specific absorption rates (SAR) from 0.4 W/kg to 27.5 W/kg. In step with increasing SAR, motility and vitality were significantly reduced after RF-EMR exposure, while the mitochondrial generation of reactive oxygen species and DNA fragmentation were significantly elevated (P