Impact of radio frequency electromagnetic radiation on DNA integrity in the male germline

(2005)
Method

Frequency Ranges:
RF-EMR (Radiofrequency): 900 MHz – 2.4 GHz (mobile phones, Wi-Fi).

ELF-EMR (Extremely Low Frequency): 50–60 Hz (power lines, electrical appliances).

Exposure Conditions:
In vivo (animal studies): Rats/mice exposed to EMR in controlled chambers.

In vitro (human sperm samples): Sperm exposed to EMR in lab conditions.

Epidemiological studies: Surveys on men with high EMR exposure (e.g., cell phone users, industrial workers).

Source

Exposure Setup

EMR Sources: Cell phones, Wi-Fi, power lines, monitors (common devices emitting non-ionizing radiation).

Result

This study investigated whether exposure to 900 MHz RF-EMR (similar to mobile phone radiation) induces DNA damage in male germ cells, which could have implications for human fertility.

Post-exposure analyses included:

Standard semen parameters (count, morphology, vitality)

DNA damage assessment via:

  • Alkaline and pulsed-field gel electrophoresis (for detecting single/double-strand breaks)
  • Quantitative PCR (QPCR) (for precise measurement of DNA damage in mitochondrial and nuclear genomes)
  1. No Observable Impact on Conventional Sperm Parameters:No significant differences in sperm count, morphology, or vitality were observed between exposed and control groups.
    Gel electrophoresis showed no evidence of gross DNA strand breaks in spermatozoa.
    Detection of Subtle Genetic Damage:
  1. QPCR analysis revealed statistically significant DNA damage in:
    Mitochondrial genome
    Nuclear β-globin gene locus