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An Australian study recently published their results on their analysis of the biological consequences of exposing human sperms in radiofrequency-electromagnetic radiation (RF-EMR).

They found that both the power density and frequency range of mobile phones produce mitochondrial reactive oxygen species in the sperm cells resulting to decreased movement and vitality of these plus damage of the sperm’s DNA. They suggested that these findings affect both the fertility of the male-parent and the well-being of the offspring.

Mobile phones produce a frequency range of 400 to 2000 MHz: 450-900 MHz for analog phones; 850-1900 MHz for GSM phones; around 2000 MHz for third-generation (3G) phones which also includes smartphones.

Specific Absorption Rate (SAR) is defined as the amount of radiofrequency energy absorbed from the phone into the body’s tissues. SAR of cellphones range from 0.12 to 1.6 W/kg of body weight. CNET has just updated its list of cellphones with their respective SAR levels. Click here to know more.

For example, the latest Apple iPhone model, 3G S, has a SAR level of 1.19, while a Palm Pre is 0.93.

Previous studies had already associated the negative effects of mobile phone radiation to male fertility:

A 2008 US study investigated the effect of  cellphone use on various sperm parameters such as volume, liquefaction time, pH, viscosity, sperm count, motility, viability, and morphology. They found that cell phones have negative effects on sperm count, motility, viability, and normal morphology. These findings depend on the duration of daily exposure to cell phones.

In 2005, Aitken and colleagues tested the effects of RF-EMR in rats by exposing these for 7 days at 12 hours per day. They found that although there is no dramatic impact on male germ cell development, yet there is a significant genotoxic effect on epididymal spermatozoa. However, other studies found no adverse effects.

I think that these studies clearly justifies the well-known fact that mobile phones DO have a negative effect on human health. Clearly, being able to prevent ourselves from prolonged exposure to RF-EMR should always be kept in mind.

In July 2008, Dr. Ronald Herberman gave some practical advice to limit cell phone radiation exposure:

1. Do not allow children to use a cell phone, except for emergencies. The developing organs of a fetus or child are the most likely to be sensitive to any possible effects of exposure to electromagnetic fields.
2. While communicating using your cell phone, try to keep the cell phone away from the body as much as possible. The amplitude of the electromagnetic field is one fourth the strength at a distance of two inches and fifty times lower at three feet. Whenever possible, use the speaker-phone mode or a wireless Bluetooth headset, which has less than 1/100th of the electromagnetic emission of a normal cell phone. Use of a hands-free ear piece attachment may also reduce exposures.
3. Avoid using your cell phone in places, like a bus, where you can passively expose others to your phone’s electromagnetic fields.
4. Avoid carrying your cell phone on your body at all times. Do not keep it near your body at night such as under the pillow or on a bedside table, particularly if pregnant. You can also put it on “flight” or “off-line” mode, which stops electromagnetic emissions.
5. If you must carry your cell phone on you, make sure that the keypad is positioned toward your body and the back is positioned toward the outside so that the transmitted electromagnetic fields move away from your rather than through you.
6. Only use your cell phone to establish contact or for conversations lasting a few minutes, as the biological effects are directly related to the duration of exposure. 
   For longer conversations, use a land line with a corded phone, not a cordless phone, which uses electromagnetic emitting technology similar to that of cell phones.
7. Switch sides regularly while communicating on your cell phone to spread out your exposure. Before putting your cell phone to the ear, wait until your correspondent has picked up. This limits the power of the electromagnetic field emitted near your ear and the duration of your exposure.
8. Avoid using your cell phone when the signal is weak or when moving at high speed, such as in a car or train, as this automatically increases power to a maximum as the phone repeatedly attempts to connect to a new relay antenna.
9. When possible, communicate via text messaging rather than making a call, limiting the duration of exposure and the proximity to the body.
10. Choose a device with the lowest SAR possible (SAR = Specific Absorption Rate, which is a measure of the strength of the magnetic field absorbed by the body). SAR ratings of contemporary phones by different manufacturers are available by searching for “sar ratings cell phones” on the internet.

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6. @bi3L says:

   08/03/2009 at 22:46

   hey… been getting a lot of email about this.. since… I got my first cellphone .. which was 10 years ago… But I’m not sure how this affects my body… I guess.. as long as you do not over expose yourself.. you should be OK.