Effect of Electromagnetic Wave Emitted from Mobile Phone on Some Reproductive Parameters in Adult Male Guinea Pigs

The effects electromagnetic wave (EMW) (900 MHz) emitted by mobile phones, for 60 days, upon the testis weight and epididymal sperm quality in male guinea pigs were investigated. Twelve healthy male guinea pigs were assigned randomly as the treatment (n=6) and control (n=6) groups. Treatment group (group EMW) was exposed to electromagnetic field of 900 MHz (217 Hz pulse rate, 2 W maximum peak power, SAR 0.95 w/kg) emitted by a mobile phone (used daily as; 20 min calling, then kept in ‘standby’ position for 23 h 40 min/day) for 20 min per day for 60 days. Control group (Group C) was maintained under similar conditions, with no radiation. Unlike the males in Group C kept in a separate room, those in exposed-group were subjected to electromagnetic radiation being operated at 900 MHz EMW field. There were not significant (P 0.05) differences between the groups based on the testicle weight (3.6 g vs. 4.4 g), sperm motility (61.7% vs. 70.0%), and abnormal sperm rate (5.8% vs. 3.7%) in treated and control males, respectively. However, there was a significantly (P 0.05) lower sperm number (549.6 x 106 sperm/ml) in Group EMW as compared to those in Group C (799.17 x 106 sperm/ml). According to the findings achieved, it was suggested that; i) the EMW radiation emitted by mobile phones (900 MHz) in daily use (for 20 min actively per day) up to 60 days unfavourably affected the testicle weight and epididymal sperm traits variably and at some levels, and ii) the number of spermatozoa was the most profoundly (adversely) affected sperm characteristics in male guinea pigs exposed to the radiation concerned.