Semen Quality and Hormone Levels Among Radiofrequency Heater Operators

Approximately 9,000,000 US workers are occupationally exposed to radiofrequency (RF) radiation; over 250,000 operate RF dielectric heaters. Our purpose was to determine whether male RF heater operators experience increased adverse reproductive effects reflected in reduced semen quality or altered ho...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Journal of occupational and environmental medicine 2000-10, Vol.42 (10), p.993-1005
Main Authors: Grajewski, Barbara, Cox, Clinton, Schrader, Steven M., Murray, William E., Edwards, Richard M., Turner, Terry W., Smith, James M., Shekar, Sam S., Evenson, Donald P., Simon, Stephen D., Conover, David L.
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Adult
Biological and medical sciences
Biological effects of radiation
Body fluids
Chromatin
Female
Follicle Stimulating Hormone - blood
Fundamental and applied biological sciences. Psychology
Heating
Hormones
Humans
Linear Models
Longitudinal Studies
Luteinizing Hormone - blood
Male
Male employees
National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (U.S.)
Non ionizing radiations. Hertzian waves. Biooptics
Occupational Exposure
Occupational health
Occupational safety
Occupations
ORIGINAL ARTICLES
Pregnancy
Prolactin - blood
Radiation
Radio Waves
Radioimmunoassay
semen
Semen - radiation effects
Spermatozoa - chemistry
Surveys and Questionnaires
Testosterone - blood
Tissues, organs and organisms biophysics
United States
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Summary:Approximately 9,000,000 US workers are occupationally exposed to radiofrequency (RF) radiation; over 250,000 operate RF dielectric heaters. Our purpose was to determine whether male RF heater operators experience increased adverse reproductive effects reflected in reduced semen quality or altered hormone levels. We measured incident RF heater radiation exposures and RF-induced foot currents at four companies. For 12 male heater operators and a comparison group of 34 RF-unexposed men, we measured 33 parameters of semen quality and four serum hormones. Despite wide variation in individual exposure levels, near field strengths and induced foot currents did not exceed current standard levels and guidelines. We observed minor semen quality and hormonal differences between the groups, including a slightly higher mean follicle-stimulating hormone level for exposed operators (7.6 vs 5.8 mIU/mL). Further occupational studies of RF-exposed men may be warranted.
ISSN:1076-2752
1536-5948
DOI:10.1097/00043764-200010000-00005