Is RF a danger to health? – Part Two

Over the years there have been ongoing concerns, scare stories and many reports on the possible harming effects of RF emissions, particularly in relation to mobile phones.

This is the second part of a multi-part series looking at various RF effects including sperm count, interruption of sleep patterns and brain tumours.

Can using a mobile phone cause ‘dodgy swimmers’?

Researchers at the Cleveland Clinic in America studied 361 men at their infertility clinic to investigate the effect of mobile phone use on semen quality.

The men were divided into four groups according to their mobile phone use:

• Group 1 – no use;
• Group 2 – less than two hours per day;
• Group 3 – two to four hours per day;
• Group 4 – more than four hours per day.

The researchers found that any mobile phone use is associated with lower semen quality in the user compared to no mobile phone use. The researchers also noted that higher mobile phone use (more than four hours a day) is correlated with significantly lower semen quality (count, motility, viability and normal morphology).

“The results were statistically analysed and there were significant differences between patients who used mobile phones and those who did not,” said Dr Ashok Agarwal, researcher at the Cleveland Clinic.

“The changes were seen after the use of a mobile phone for an hour a day. However, more pronounced changes were seen after four or more hours of daily use.”

However, Australian Mobile Telecommunications Association CEO Chris Althaus was quoted on the AMTA website as saying that the research conducted by the Cleveland Clinic on male fertility is inconsistent with other research in the area and with the scientific consensus that there are no substantiated health effects from mobile phones.

Althaus’s claim is consistent with information available on the World Health Organisation’s website which says: “None of the recent reviews have concluded that exposure to the RF fields from mobile phones or their base stations causes any adverse health consequence. However, there are gaps in knowledge that have been identified for further research to better assess health risks. It will take some 3-4 years for the required RF research to be completed, evaluated and to publish the final results of any health risks.”

Agarwal said that two more studies are currently being held in this area and advised men, based on the results from this study, to consider reducing their mobile phone use.