Comparison of the effect of changing the spatial distance with exposure time to mobile phones radiation on the structure and function of the testis in NMRI mice

2022 · Mixed · Low evidence

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MixedLow evidencePaper 809

Study snapshot

Publicationmanual · 2022

Study typeanimal

Reported directionMixed

Evidence ratingLow

Abstract

Comparison of the effect of changing the spatial distance with exposure time to mobile phones radiation on the structure and function of the testis in NMRI mice Homa Soleimani, Mahbobeh Gafori Ghadarijani, Fatemeh Rafiei, Parvindokht Bayat. Comparison of the effect of changing the spatial distance with exposure time to mobile phones radiation on the structure and function of the testis in NMRI mice. Journal of Microwave Power and Electromagnetic Energy, 56(2):87-102. 2022. doi:10.1080/08327823.2022.2066769. Abstract The present study was conducted to compare the effect of changing the spatial distance and time radio frequency (RF) radiation from mobile phone in standby mode on the structure and function of testicles. NMRI mice were randomly divided into three groups. The first group was the control and the second group (exposed group) was divided into four subgroups: groups A (A1 and A2) and groups B (B1 and B2), which were placed in plastic holder units at two distances of 5 cm and 20 cm from RF radiation, respectively. A1 and B1, and A2 and B2 were exposed to RF radiation for six and 10 weeks, respectively. The exposure duration was 5 days/week, 6 hours/day. The third group with two subgroups (sham1 and sham2) were kept in plastic holder units without being exposed to radiation and were evaluated after six and 10 weeks, respectively. The changes in the external diameters of seminiferous tubules and the height of germinal epithelium obviously depended more on the distance from the radiation source than on the exposure time. The decrease in the diameter of the testicles and sperm motility were found to be time-dependent. These effects had a clear but unpredictable dependence on the two variables of distance and RF radiation time. Excerpts The intensity of waves was measured at a distance of 5 and 20 cm every 10 seconds in water within 6 minutes (the time of thermal balance of human body, at a density similar to the body density). Measurement of the electromagnetic field intensity showed that the mean value in both cases, without mobile phone (1.39 μW/m2) and with the mobile phone, in standby mode at a distance of 20 cm were almost equal. However, the amount of electromagnetic field fluctuated over time in the presence of a mobile phone (Table 1).... We also exhibited that each of the factors of stress and radiation alone led to a significant decrease in sperm motility (Grade 1 and 2). Meanwhile, the effects of stress and RF field were not synergistic. Moreover, sperm motility (Grade 1) in sham2 group was not significantly different with that in control group. This may be attributed to the adaptation of biological tissues to stressor factors. It seemed as though the effect of RF field and decreased distance from the radiation source leads to a decrease in the rate of sperm in Grades 1 and 2 and an increase rate sperm in Grades 3 and 4. According to the obtained results, the effect of the RF exposure on sperm motility might probably change according to the distance from the radiation source, which is more important than the exposure time. Conclusion This research shed light on the fact that although decreased distance or increased irradiation time led to histological or physiological changes in the structure and function of the male reproductive system, these effects were not similar. These changes had significant impacts, but unforeseeable dependence, on the two variables of distance and radiation time of mobile phone in standby mode. Our findings also depicted the significant and superior role of stress against mobile phone radiation in the decrease in the diameter of testis, sperm motility, and the reduction in sperm count. Furthermore, stress was the predominant factor in comparison with radiation exposure and once the stress was eliminated due to the habituation of the animal, the biological effects of radiation exposure on the tissue became detectable. tandfonline.com

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AI evidence extraction

Structured fields below were generated from the paper’s abstract and metadata to make the evidence easier to inspect. Automated extraction may be incomplete or incorrect; verify important details against the original paper.

Study typeanimal

Effect directionmixed

PopulationNMRI mice

Sample sizeNot supplied

ExposureRF · 6 or 10 weeks; 5 days/week, 6 hours/day; distances 5 cm or 20 cm

Evidence strengthLowConfidence: 74% · Peer reviewed: yes

Main findings

Mice exposed to RF radiation from a mobile phone in standby mode at 5 cm or 20 cm for 6 or 10 weeks showed histological and physiological changes in male reproductive parameters. Changes in seminiferous tubule diameter and germinal epithelium height depended more on distance than exposure time, while decreases in testis diameter and sperm motility were reported as time-dependent. The authors also report that stress alone significantly decreased sperm motility and was described as a predominant factor compared with radiation exposure, with no synergistic effect between stress and RF exposure.

Outcomes measured

Testis diameter
External diameters of seminiferous tubules
Height of germinal epithelium
Sperm motility (Grades 1–4)
Sperm count
Electromagnetic field intensity (μW/m2)

Limitations

Sample size not reported in the provided abstract
RF exposure characteristics (e.g., frequency, SAR) not reported in the provided abstract
Exposure described as phone in standby mode with fluctuating field intensity; quantitative exposure levels for all conditions not fully specified in the provided abstract
Stress effects and habituation are discussed as major contributors, complicating attribution to RF exposure alone

View raw extracted JSON

{
  "study_type": "animal",
  "exposure": {
    "band": "RF",
    "source": "mobile phone (standby mode)",
    "frequency_mhz": null,
    "sar_wkg": null,
    "duration": "6 or 10 weeks; 5 days/week, 6 hours/day; distances 5 cm or 20 cm"
  },
  "population": "NMRI mice",
  "sample_size": null,
  "outcomes": [
    "Testis diameter",
    "External diameters of seminiferous tubules",
    "Height of germinal epithelium",
    "Sperm motility (Grades 1–4)",
    "Sperm count",
    "Electromagnetic field intensity (μW/m2)"
  ],
  "main_findings": "Mice exposed to RF radiation from a mobile phone in standby mode at 5 cm or 20 cm for 6 or 10 weeks showed histological and physiological changes in male reproductive parameters. Changes in seminiferous tubule diameter and germinal epithelium height depended more on distance than exposure time, while decreases in testis diameter and sperm motility were reported as time-dependent. The authors also report that stress alone significantly decreased sperm motility and was described as a predominant factor compared with radiation exposure, with no synergistic effect between stress and RF exposure.",
  "effect_direction": "mixed",
  "limitations": [
    "Sample size not reported in the provided abstract",
    "RF exposure characteristics (e.g., frequency, SAR) not reported in the provided abstract",
    "Exposure described as phone in standby mode with fluctuating field intensity; quantitative exposure levels for all conditions not fully specified in the provided abstract",
    "Stress effects and habituation are discussed as major contributors, complicating attribution to RF exposure alone"
  ],
  "evidence_strength": "low",
  "confidence": 0.74,
  "peer_reviewed_likely": "yes",
  "keywords": [
    "radiofrequency",
    "mobile phone",
    "standby mode",
    "distance",
    "exposure time",
    "testis",
    "seminiferous tubules",
    "germinal epithelium",
    "sperm motility",
    "sperm count",
    "stress",
    "NMRI mice"
  ],
  "suggested_hubs": [
    {
      "slug": "mobile-phones",
      "weight": 0.9,
      "reason": "Exposure source is a mobile phone in standby mode."
    },
    {
      "slug": "male-fertility",
      "weight": 0.85,
      "reason": "Outcomes include testis histology, sperm motility, and sperm count."
    }
  ]
}

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AI-extracted fields are generated from the abstract and metadata and may be incomplete or incorrect. This material is for informational purposes and is not medical advice.

Identifiers and source

DOI: 10.1080/08327823.2022.2066769
PubMed: Not supplied

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