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Rannaud-Bartaire P, Demeneix BA, Fini JB. Pressures of the urban environment on the endocrine system: Adverse effects and adaptation. Mol Cell Endocrinol 2024; 583:112125. [PMID: 38147952 DOI: 10.1016/j.mce.2023.112125] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/05/2023] [Revised: 12/10/2023] [Accepted: 12/11/2023] [Indexed: 12/28/2023]
Abstract
With an increasing collective awareness of the rapid environmental changes, questions and theories regarding the adaptability of organisms are emerging. Global warming as well as chemical and non-chemical pollution have been identified as triggers of these adaptative changes, but can we link different kinds of stressors to certain phenotypic traits? The physiological adaptation, and particularly endocrine system adaptation, of living beings to urban environments is a fascinating way of studying urban endocrinology, which has emerged as a research field in 2007. In this paper, we stress how endocrine disruption in humans and environment can be studied in the urban environment by measuring the levels of pollution, endocrine activities or adversity. We broaden the focus to include not only exposure to the chemicals that have invaded our private spheres and their effects on wild and domestic species but also non-chemical effectors such as light, noise and climate change. We argue that taking into account the various urban stress factors and their effects on the endocrine system would enable the adoption of new approaches to protect living organisms.
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Affiliation(s)
- Patricia Rannaud-Bartaire
- PhyMa Unit, CNRS UMR 7221, Muséum National d'Histoire Naturelle, F-75005, Paris, France; Université Catholique de Lille, l'hôpital Saint-Vincent-De-Paul, Boulevard de Belfort, 59000, Lille, France
| | - Barbara A Demeneix
- PhyMa Unit, CNRS UMR 7221, Muséum National d'Histoire Naturelle, F-75005, Paris, France
| | - Jean-Baptiste Fini
- PhyMa Unit, CNRS UMR 7221, Muséum National d'Histoire Naturelle, F-75005, Paris, France.
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Cordelli E, Ardoino L, Benassi B, Consales C, Eleuteri P, Marino C, Sciortino M, Villani P, H Brinkworth M, Chen G, P McNamee J, Wood AW, Belackova L, Verbeek J, Pacchierotti F. Effects of radiofrequency electromagnetic field (RF-EMF) exposure on male fertility: A systematic review of experimental studies on non-human mammals and human sperm in vitro. ENVIRONMENT INTERNATIONAL 2024; 185:108509. [PMID: 38492496 DOI: 10.1016/j.envint.2024.108509] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/12/2023] [Revised: 02/02/2024] [Accepted: 02/16/2024] [Indexed: 03/18/2024]
Abstract
BACKGROUND The World Health Organization is coordinating an international project aimed at systematically reviewing the evidence regarding the association between radiofrequency electromagnetic field (RF-EMF) exposure and adverse health effects. Reproductive health outcomes have been identified among the priority topics to be addressed. OBJECTIVES To evaluate the effect of RF-EMF exposure on male fertility of experimental mammals and on human sperm exposed in vitro. METHODS Three electronic databases (PubMed, Scopus and EMF Portal) were last searched on September 17, 2022. Two independent reviewers screened the studies, which were considered eligible if met the following criteria: 1) Peer-reviewed publications of sham controlled experimental studies, 2) Non-human male mammals exposed at any stage of development or human sperm exposed in vitro, 3) RF-EMF exposure within the frequency range of 100 kHz-300 GHz, including electromagnetic pulses (EMP), 4) one of the following indicators of reproductive system impairment:Two reviewers extracted study characteristics and outcome data. We assessed risk of bias (RoB) using the Office of Health Assessment and Translation (OHAT) guidelines. We categorized studies into 3 levels of overall RoB: low, some or high concern. We pooled study results in a random effects meta-analysis comparing average exposure to no-exposure and in a dose-response meta-analysis using all exposure doses. For experimental animal studies, we conducted subgroup analyses for species, Specific Absorption Rate (SAR) and temperature increase. We grouped studies on human sperm exposed in vitro by the fertility status of sample donors and SAR. We assessed the certainty of the evidence using the GRADE approach after excluding studies that were rated as "high concern" for RoB. RESULTS One-hundred and seventeen papers on animal studies and 10 papers on human sperm exposed in vitro were included in this review. Only few studies were rated as "low concern" because most studies were at RoB for exposure and/or outcome assessment. Subgrouping the experimental animal studies by species, SAR, and temperature increase partly accounted for the heterogeneity of individual studies in about one third of the meta-analyses. In no case was it possible to conduct a subgroup analysis of the few human sperm in vitro studies because there were always 1 or more groups including less than 3 studies. Among all the considered endpoints, the meta-analyses of animal studies provided evidence of adverse effects of RF-EMF exposure in all cases but the rate of infertile males and the size of the sired litters. The assessment of certainty according to the GRADE methodology assigned a moderate certainty to the reduction of pregnancy rate and to the evidence of no-effect on litter size, a low certainty to the reduction of sperm count, and a very low certainty to all the other meta-analysis results. Studies on human sperm exposed in vitro indicated a small detrimental effect of RF-EMF exposure on vitality and no-effect on DNA/chromatin alterations. According to GRADE, a very low certainty was attributed to these results. The few studies that used EMP exposure did not show effects on the outcomes. A low to very low certainty was attributed to these results. DISCUSSION Many of the studies examined suffered of severe limitations that led to the attribution of uncertainty to the results of the meta-analyses and did not allow to draw firm conclusions on most of the endpoints. Nevertheless, the associations between RF-EMF exposure and decrease of pregnancy rate and sperm count, to which moderate and low certainty were attributed, are not negligible, also in view of the indications that in Western countries human male fertility potential seems to be progressively declining. It was beyond the scope of our systematic review to determine the shape of the dose-response relationship or to identify a minimum effective exposure level. The subgroup and the dose-response fitting analyses did not show a consistent relationship between the exposure levels and the observed effects. Notably, most studies evaluated RF-EMF exposure levels that were higher than the levels to which human populations are typically exposed, and the limits set in international guidelines. For these reasons we cannot provide suggestions to confirm or reconsider current human exposure limits. Considering the outcomes of this systematic review and taking into account the limitations found in several of the studies, we suggest that further investigations with better characterization of exposure and dosimetry including several exposure levels and blinded outcome assessment were conducted. PROTOCOL REGISTRATION Protocols for the systematic reviews of animal studies and of human sperm in vitro studies were published in Pacchierotti et al., 2021. The former was also registered in PROSPERO (CRD42021227729 https://www.crd.york.ac.uk/prospero/display_record.php?RecordID = 227729) and the latter in Open Science Framework (OSF Registration DOI https://doi.org/10.17605/OSF.IO/7MUS3).
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Affiliation(s)
- Eugenia Cordelli
- Division Health Protection Technologies, Italian National Agency for New Technologies, Energy and Sustainable Economic Development (ENEA), Rome, Italy.
| | - Lucia Ardoino
- Division Health Protection Technologies, Italian National Agency for New Technologies, Energy and Sustainable Economic Development (ENEA), Rome, Italy
| | - Barbara Benassi
- Division Health Protection Technologies, Italian National Agency for New Technologies, Energy and Sustainable Economic Development (ENEA), Rome, Italy
| | - Claudia Consales
- Division Health Protection Technologies, Italian National Agency for New Technologies, Energy and Sustainable Economic Development (ENEA), Rome, Italy
| | - Patrizia Eleuteri
- Division Health Protection Technologies, Italian National Agency for New Technologies, Energy and Sustainable Economic Development (ENEA), Rome, Italy
| | - Carmela Marino
- Division Health Protection Technologies, Italian National Agency for New Technologies, Energy and Sustainable Economic Development (ENEA), Rome, Italy
| | | | - Paola Villani
- Division Health Protection Technologies, Italian National Agency for New Technologies, Energy and Sustainable Economic Development (ENEA), Rome, Italy
| | - Martin H Brinkworth
- School of Chemistry and Bioscience, Faculty of Life Sciences, University of Bradford, Bradford, UK
| | - Guangdi Chen
- Bioelectromagnetics Laboratory, Zhejiang University School of Medicine, Hangzhou, China
| | - James P McNamee
- Non-Ionizing Radiation Health Sciences Division, Consumer and Clinical Radiation Protection Bureau, Health Canada, Ottawa, Canada
| | - Andrew W Wood
- Department of Health Sciences and Biostatistics, Swinburne University of Technology, Hawthorn, Australia
| | - Lea Belackova
- University Medical Centers Amsterdam, Coronel Institute of Occupational Health, Cochrane Work, Amsterdam, the Netherlands
| | - Jos Verbeek
- University Medical Centers Amsterdam, Coronel Institute of Occupational Health, Cochrane Work, Amsterdam, the Netherlands
| | - Francesca Pacchierotti
- Division Health Protection Technologies, Italian National Agency for New Technologies, Energy and Sustainable Economic Development (ENEA), Rome, Italy.
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Rahban R, Senn A, Nef S, Rӧӧsli M. Association between self-reported mobile phone use and the semen quality of young men. Fertil Steril 2023; 120:1181-1192. [PMID: 37921737 DOI: 10.1016/j.fertnstert.2023.09.009] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/29/2022] [Revised: 09/11/2023] [Accepted: 09/15/2023] [Indexed: 11/04/2023]
Abstract
OBJECTIVES To investigate the association between mobile phone exposure and semen parameters. DESIGN A nationwide cross-sectional study. SETTING Andrology laboratories in close proximity to 6 army recruitment centers. PATIENTS In total, 2886 men from the general Swiss population, 18-22 years old, were recruited between 2005 and 2018 during military conscription. INTERVENTION Participants delivered a semen sample and completed a questionnaire on health and lifestyle, including the number of hours they spent using their mobile phones and where they placed them when not in use. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES Using logistic and multiple linear regression models, adjusted odds ratios and β coefficients were determined, respectively. The association between mobile phone exposure and semen parameters such as volume, sperm concentration, total sperm count (TSC), motility, and morphology was then evaluated. RESULTS A total of 2759 men answered the question concerning their mobile phone use, and 2764 gave details on the position of their mobile phone when not in use. In the adjusted linear model, a higher frequency of mobile phone use (>20 times per day) was associated with a lower sperm concentration (adjusted β: -0.152; 95% confidence interval: -0.316; 0.011) and a lower TSC (adjusted β: -0.271; 95% confidence interval: -0.515; -0.027). In the adjusted logistic regression model, this translates to a 30% and 21% increased risk for sperm concentration and TSC to be below the World Health Organization reference values for fertile men, respectively. This inverse association was found to be more pronounced in the first study period (2005-2007) and gradually decreased with time (2008-2011 and 2012-2018). No consistent associations were observed between mobile phone use and sperm motility or sperm morphology. Keeping a mobile phone in the pants pocket was not found to be associated with lower semen parameters. CONCLUSION This large population-based study suggests that higher mobile phone use is associated with lower sperm concentration and TSC. The observed time trend of decreasing association is in line with the transition to new technologies and the corresponding decrease in mobile phone output power. Prospective studies with improved exposure assessment are needed to confirm whether the observed associations are causal.
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Affiliation(s)
- Rita Rahban
- Swiss Centre for Applied Human Toxicology (SCAHT), University of Geneva, Geneva, Switzerland; Department of Genetic Medicine and Development, University of Geneva, Geneva, Switzerland.
| | - Alfred Senn
- Swiss Centre for Applied Human Toxicology (SCAHT), University of Geneva, Geneva, Switzerland; Department of Genetic Medicine and Development, University of Geneva, Geneva, Switzerland
| | - Serge Nef
- Swiss Centre for Applied Human Toxicology (SCAHT), University of Geneva, Geneva, Switzerland; Department of Genetic Medicine and Development, University of Geneva, Geneva, Switzerland
| | - Martin Rӧӧsli
- Department of Epidemiology and Public Health, Swiss Tropical and Public Health Institute, Allschwill, Switzerland; University of Basel, Basel, Switzerland
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Cordelli E, Ardoino L, Benassi B, Consales C, Eleuteri P, Marino C, Sciortino M, Villani P, Brinkworth MH, Chen G, McNamee JP, Wood AW, Belackova L, Verbeek J, Pacchierotti F. Effects of Radiofrequency Electromagnetic Field (RF-EMF) exposure on pregnancy and birth outcomes: A systematic review of experimental studies on non-human mammals. ENVIRONMENT INTERNATIONAL 2023; 180:108178. [PMID: 37729852 DOI: 10.1016/j.envint.2023.108178] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/13/2023] [Revised: 08/24/2023] [Accepted: 08/29/2023] [Indexed: 09/22/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND The World Health Organization is coordinating an international project aimed at systematically reviewing the evidence regarding the association between radiofrequency electromagnetic field (RF-EMF) exposure and adverse health effects. Within the project, 6 topics have been prioritized by an expert group, which include reproductive health outcomes. OBJECTIVES According to the protocol published in 2021, a systematic review and meta-analyses on the adverse effects of RF-EMF exposure during pregnancy in offspring of experimental animals were conducted. METHODS Three electronic databases (PubMed, Scopus and EMF Portal) were last searched on September 8 or 17, 2022. Based on predefined selection criteria, the obtained references were screened by two independent reviewers. Studies were included if they met the following criteria: 1) original, sham controlled experimental study on non-human mammals exposed in utero, published in peer-reviewed journals, 2) the experimental RF-EMF exposure was within the frequency range 100 kHz-300 GHz, 3) the effects of RF-EMF exposure on fecundity (litter size, embryonic/fetal losses), on the offspring health at birth (decrease of weight or length, congenital malformations, changes of sex ratio) or on delayed effects (neurocognitive alterations, female infertility or early-onset cancer) were studied. Study characteristics and outcome data were extracted by two reviewers. Risk of bias (RoB) was assessed using the Office of Health Assessment and Translation (OHAT) guidelines. Study results were pooled in a random effects meta-analysis comparing average exposure to no-exposure and in a dose-response meta-analysis using all exposure doses, after exclusion of studies that were rated at "high concern" for RoB. Subgroup analyses were conducted for species, Specific Absorption Rate (SAR) and temperature increase. The certainty of the evidence was assessed using the Grading of Recommendations, Assessment, Development and Evaluations (GRADE) approach. RESULTS Eighty-eight papers could be included in this review. Effects on fecundity. The meta-analysis of studies on litter size, conducted at a whole-body average SAR of 4.92 W/kg, did not show an effect of RF-EMF exposure (MD 0.05; 95% CI -0.21 to 0.30). The meta-analysis of studies on resorbed and dead fetuses, conducted at a whole-body average SAR of 20.26 W/kg, showed a significant increase of the incidence in RF-EMF exposed animals (OR 1.84; 95% CI 1.27 to 2.66). The results were similar in the dose-response analysis. Effects on the offspring health at birth. The meta-analysis of studies on fetal weight, conducted at a whole-body average SAR of 9.83 W/kg, showed a small decrease in RF-EMF exposed animals (SMD 0.31; 95% CI 0.15 to 0.48). The meta-analysis of studies on fetal length, conducted at a whole-body average SAR of 4.55 W/kg, showed a moderate decrease in length at birth (SMD 0.45; 95% CI 0.07 to 0.83). The meta-analysis of studies on the percentage of fetuses with malformations, conducted at a whole-body average SAR of 6.75 W/kg, showed a moderate increase in RF-EMF exposed animals (SMD -0.45; 95% CI -0.68 to -0.23). The meta-analysis of studies on the incidence of litters with malformed fetuses, conducted at a whole-body average SAR of 16.63 W/kg, showed a statistically significant detrimental RF-EMF effect (OR 3.22; 95% CI 1.9 to 5.46). The results were similar in the dose-response analyses. Delayed effects on the offspring health. RF-EMF exposure was not associated with detrimental effects on brain weight (SMD 0.10; 95% CI -0.09 to 0.29) and on learning and memory functions (SMD -0.54; 95% CI -1.24 to 0.17). RF-EMF exposure was associated with a large detrimental effect on motor activity functions (SMD 0.79; 95% CI 0.21 to 1.38) and a moderate detrimental effect on motor and sensory functions (SMD -0.66; 95% CI -1.18 to -0.14). RF-EMF exposure was not associated with a decrease of the size of litters conceived by F2 female offspring (SMD 0.08; 95% CI -0.39 to 0.55). Notably, meta-analyses of neurobehavioural effects were based on few studies, which suffered of lack of independent replication deriving from only few laboratories. DISCUSSION There was high certainty in the evidence for a lack of association of RF-EMF exposure with litter size. We attributed a moderate certainty to the evidence of a small detrimental effect on fetal weight. We also attributed a moderate certainty to the evidence of a lack of delayed effects on the offspring brain weight. For most of the other endpoints assessed by the meta-analyses, detrimental RF-EMF effects were shown, however the evidence was attributed a low or very low certainty. The body of evidence had limitations that did not allow an assessment of whether RF-EMF may affect pregnancy outcomes at exposure levels below those eliciting a well-known adverse heating impact. In conclusion, in utero RF-EMF exposure does not have a detrimental effect on fecundity and likely affects offspring health at birth, based on the meta-analysis of studies in experimental mammals on litter size and fetal weight, respectively. Regarding possible delayed effects of in utero exposure, RF-EMF probably does not affect offspring brain weight and may not decrease female offspring fertility; on the other hand, RF-EMF may have a detrimental impact on neurobehavioural functions, varying in magnitude for different endpoints, but these last findings are very uncertain. Further research is needed on the effects at birth and delayed effects with sample sizes adequate for detecting a small effect. Future studies should use standardized endpoints for testing prenatal developmental toxicity and developmental neurotoxicity (OECD TG 414 and 426), improve the description of the exposure system design and exposure conditions, conduct appropriate dosimetry characterization, blind endpoint analysis and include several exposure levels to better enable the assessment of a dose-response relationship. PROTOCOL REGISTRATION AND PUBLICATION The protocol was published in Pacchierotti et al., 2021 and registered in PROSPERO CRD42021227746 (https://www.crd.york.ac.uk/prospero/display_record.php?RecordID=227746).
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Affiliation(s)
- Eugenia Cordelli
- Division Health Protection Technologies, Italian National Agency for New Technologies, Energy and Sustainable Economic Development (ENEA), Rome, Italy.
| | - Lucia Ardoino
- Division Health Protection Technologies, Italian National Agency for New Technologies, Energy and Sustainable Economic Development (ENEA), Rome, Italy
| | - Barbara Benassi
- Division Health Protection Technologies, Italian National Agency for New Technologies, Energy and Sustainable Economic Development (ENEA), Rome, Italy
| | - Claudia Consales
- Division Health Protection Technologies, Italian National Agency for New Technologies, Energy and Sustainable Economic Development (ENEA), Rome, Italy
| | - Patrizia Eleuteri
- Division Health Protection Technologies, Italian National Agency for New Technologies, Energy and Sustainable Economic Development (ENEA), Rome, Italy
| | - Carmela Marino
- Division Health Protection Technologies, Italian National Agency for New Technologies, Energy and Sustainable Economic Development (ENEA), Rome, Italy
| | | | - Paola Villani
- Division Health Protection Technologies, Italian National Agency for New Technologies, Energy and Sustainable Economic Development (ENEA), Rome, Italy
| | - Martin H Brinkworth
- School of Chemistry and Bioscience, Faculty of Life Sciences, University of Bradford, Bradford, UK
| | - Guangdi Chen
- Bioelectromagnetics Laboratory, Zhejiang University School of Medicine, Hangzhou, China
| | - James P McNamee
- Non-Ionizing Radiation Health Sciences Division, Consumer and Clinical Radiation Protection Bureau, Health Canada, Ottawa, Canada
| | - Andrew W Wood
- Department of Health Sciences and Biostatistics, Swinburne University of Technology, Hawthorn, Australia
| | - Lea Belackova
- University Medical Centers Amsterdam, Coronel Institute of Occupational Health, Cochrane Work, Amsterdam, The Netherlands
| | - Jos Verbeek
- University Medical Centers Amsterdam, Coronel Institute of Occupational Health, Cochrane Work, Amsterdam, The Netherlands
| | - Francesca Pacchierotti
- Division Health Protection Technologies, Italian National Agency for New Technologies, Energy and Sustainable Economic Development (ENEA), Rome, Italy.
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An G, Jing Y, Zhao T, Zhang W, Guo L, Guo J, Miao X, Xing J, Li J, Liu J, Ding G. Quantitative proteomics reveals effects of environmental radiofrequency electromagnetic fields on embryonic neural stem cells. Electromagn Biol Med 2023; 42:41-50. [PMID: 37549098 DOI: 10.1080/15368378.2023.2243980] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/06/2022] [Accepted: 07/22/2023] [Indexed: 08/09/2023]
Abstract
The effects of environmental radiofrequency electromagnetic fields (RF-EMF) on embryonic neural stem cells have not been determined, particularly at the proteomic level. This study aims to elucidate the effects of environmental levels of RF-EMF radiation on embryonic neural stem cells. Neuroectodermal stem cells (NE-4C cells) were randomly divided into a sham group and an RF group, which were sham-exposed and continuously exposed to a 1950 MHz RF-EMF at 2 W/kg for 48 h. After exposure, cell proliferation was determined by a Cell Counting Kit-8 (CCK8) assay, the cell cycle distribution and apoptosis were measured by flow cytometry, protein abundance was detected by liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry (LC-MS/MS), and mRNA expression was evaluated by quantitative reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction (qRT-PCR). We did not detect differences in cell proliferation, cell cycle distribution, and apoptosis between the two groups. However, we detected differences in the abundance of 23 proteins between the two groups, and some of these differences were consistent with alterations in transcript levels determined by qRT-PCR (P < 0.05). A bioinformatics analysis indicated that the differentially regulated proteins were mainly enriched in 'localization' in the cellular process category; however, no significant pathway alterations in NE-4C cells were detected. We conclude that under the experimental conditions, low-level RF-EMF exposure was not neurotoxic but could induce minor changes in the abundance of some proteins involved in neurodevelopment or brain function.
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Affiliation(s)
- Guangzhou An
- Department of Radiation Protection Medicine, Ministry of Education Key Laboratory of Hazard Assessment and Control in Special Operational Environment, Faculty of Preventive Medicine, Air Force Medical University, Xi'an City, Shannxi Province, China
| | - Yuntao Jing
- Department of Radiation Protection Medicine, Ministry of Education Key Laboratory of Hazard Assessment and Control in Special Operational Environment, Faculty of Preventive Medicine, Air Force Medical University, Xi'an City, Shannxi Province, China
| | - Tao Zhao
- Medical College, Xijing University, Xi an City, Shannxi Province, China
| | - Wei Zhang
- Department of Radiation Protection Medicine, Ministry of Education Key Laboratory of Hazard Assessment and Control in Special Operational Environment, Faculty of Preventive Medicine, Air Force Medical University, Xi'an City, Shannxi Province, China
| | - Ling Guo
- Department of Radiation Protection Medicine, Ministry of Education Key Laboratory of Hazard Assessment and Control in Special Operational Environment, Faculty of Preventive Medicine, Air Force Medical University, Xi'an City, Shannxi Province, China
| | - Juan Guo
- Department of Radiation Protection Medicine, Ministry of Education Key Laboratory of Hazard Assessment and Control in Special Operational Environment, Faculty of Preventive Medicine, Air Force Medical University, Xi'an City, Shannxi Province, China
| | - Xia Miao
- Department of Radiation Protection Medicine, Ministry of Education Key Laboratory of Hazard Assessment and Control in Special Operational Environment, Faculty of Preventive Medicine, Air Force Medical University, Xi'an City, Shannxi Province, China
| | - Junling Xing
- Department of Radiation Protection Medicine, Ministry of Education Key Laboratory of Hazard Assessment and Control in Special Operational Environment, Faculty of Preventive Medicine, Air Force Medical University, Xi'an City, Shannxi Province, China
| | - Jing Li
- Department of Radiation Protection Medicine, Ministry of Education Key Laboratory of Hazard Assessment and Control in Special Operational Environment, Faculty of Preventive Medicine, Air Force Medical University, Xi'an City, Shannxi Province, China
| | - Junye Liu
- Department of Radiation Protection Medicine, Ministry of Education Key Laboratory of Hazard Assessment and Control in Special Operational Environment, Faculty of Preventive Medicine, Air Force Medical University, Xi'an City, Shannxi Province, China
| | - Guirong Ding
- Department of Radiation Protection Medicine, Ministry of Education Key Laboratory of Hazard Assessment and Control in Special Operational Environment, Faculty of Preventive Medicine, Air Force Medical University, Xi'an City, Shannxi Province, China
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Muti ND, Salvio G, Ciarloni A, Perrone M, Tossetta G, Lazzarini R, Bracci M, Balercia G. Can extremely low frequency magnetic field affect human sperm parameters and male fertility? Tissue Cell 2023; 82:102045. [PMID: 36870312 DOI: 10.1016/j.tice.2023.102045] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/24/2022] [Revised: 02/17/2023] [Accepted: 02/17/2023] [Indexed: 02/21/2023]
Abstract
Exposure to extremely low frequency magnetic fields (ELF-MF) may have different effects on spermatozoa depending on the waveform, magnetic flux density, frequency of ELF-MF, and duration of exposure. In this study, we investigated the possible role of ELF-MF (50 Hz; 1 mT) exposure in altering sperm parameters. In this study we found that exposure to ELF-MF at the frequency of 50 Hz (1 mT) for two hours induces statistically significant alterations in progressive motility, morphology and reactive oxygen species (ROS) production of human spermatozoa, suggesting a role of ELF-MF in altering reproductive function of spermatozoa. Our results represent an important discovery in the field since occupational exposure to the sine waveform 1 mT 50 Hz ELF-MF used in our study is possible in workplace. Moreover, these electromagnetic fields are product by many electronic devices and household appliances. Thus, alterations of progressive motility and morphology of spermatozoa would be important consequences of human exposures to ELF-MF.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nicola Delli Muti
- Division of Endocrinology, Department of Clinical and Molecular Sciences, Polytechnic University of Marche, 60126 Ancona, Italy
| | - Gianmaria Salvio
- Division of Endocrinology, Department of Clinical and Molecular Sciences, Polytechnic University of Marche, 60126 Ancona, Italy
| | - Alessandro Ciarloni
- Division of Endocrinology, Department of Clinical and Molecular Sciences, Polytechnic University of Marche, 60126 Ancona, Italy
| | - Michele Perrone
- Division of Endocrinology, Department of Clinical and Molecular Sciences, Polytechnic University of Marche, 60126 Ancona, Italy
| | - Giovanni Tossetta
- Department of Experimental and Clinical Medicine, Polytechnic University of Marche, 60126 Ancona, Italy
| | - Raffaella Lazzarini
- Occupational Health, Department of Clinical and Molecular Sciences, Polytechnic University of Marche, 60126 Ancona, Italy
| | - Massimo Bracci
- Occupational Health, Department of Clinical and Molecular Sciences, Polytechnic University of Marche, 60126 Ancona, Italy
| | - Giancarlo Balercia
- Division of Endocrinology, Department of Clinical and Molecular Sciences, Polytechnic University of Marche, 60126 Ancona, Italy.
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Innamorato MA, Cascella M, Bignami EG, Perna P, Petrucci E, Marinangeli F, Vittori A. Neurostimulation for Chronic Low Back Pain during Pregnancy: Implications for Child and Mother Safety. INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF ENVIRONMENTAL RESEARCH AND PUBLIC HEALTH 2022; 19:15488. [PMID: 36497567 PMCID: PMC9741143 DOI: 10.3390/ijerph192315488] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/21/2022] [Revised: 10/22/2022] [Accepted: 10/24/2022] [Indexed: 06/17/2023]
Abstract
Pain therapy for low back pain in pregnancy is a very topical issue. In fact, it is necessary to balance the patient's needs to control pain with the need to manage a pregnancy without negative effects on the fetus. We report a case of a 37-year-old woman with low back pain treated with neurostimulation before pregnancy. She described severe chronic low back pain unresponsive to pharmacologic treatments. We first implanted a subcutaneous stimulator into the patient, and then a definitive stimulator resulting in excellent pain control. The improvement in her quality of life allowed the woman to become pregnant. We decided to stop neurostimulation with the patient during pregnancy. The patient completed her pregnancy without complications and the baby was born healthy. During the pregnancy, the woman took only paracetamol when needed. However, this painful symptomatology, completely anecdotal, is not attributable solely to the previous spine problem but probably also to the changes occurring during pregnancy. At the end of pregnancy, the neurostimulator was reactivated without any discomfort for the patient, who is now pain free. This case report provides a first line of evidence of a possible treatment of low back pain in women intending to become pregnant, with risk-free management for both the patient and the child.
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Affiliation(s)
- Massimo Antonio Innamorato
- Department of Neuroscience, Pain Unit, Santa Maria delle Croci Hospital, AUSL Romagna, Viale Vincenzo Randi 5, 48121 Ravenna, Italy
| | - Marco Cascella
- Department of Anesthesia and Critical Care, Istituto Nazionale Tumori—IRCCS, Fondazione Pascale, Via Mariano Semmola 53, 80131 Naples, Italy
| | - Elena Giovanna Bignami
- Anesthesiology, Critical Care and Pain Medicine Division, Department of Medicine and Surgery, University of Parma, 43121 Parma, Italy
| | - Paolo Perna
- Department of Neuroscience, Pain Unit, Santa Maria delle Croci Hospital, AUSL Romagna, Viale Vincenzo Randi 5, 48121 Ravenna, Italy
| | - Emiliano Petrucci
- Department of Anesthesia and Intensive Care Unit, San Salvatore Academic Hospital of L’Aquila, Via Vetoio 48, 67100 L’Aquila, Italy
| | - Franco Marinangeli
- Department of Anesthesiology, Intensive Care and Pain Treatment, University of L’Aquila, Piazzale Salvatore Tommasi 1, 67100 Coppito, Italy
| | - Alessandro Vittori
- Department of Anesthesia and Critical Care, ARCO ROMA, Ospedale Pediatrico Bambino Gesù IRCCS, Piazza S. Onofrio 4, 00165 Rome, Italy
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Wi-Fi technology and human health impact: a brief review of current knowledge. ARHIV ZA HIGIJENU RADA I TOKSIKOLOGIJU 2022; 73:94-106. [PMID: 35792772 PMCID: PMC9287836 DOI: 10.2478/aiht-2022-73-3402] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/01/2020] [Accepted: 06/01/2022] [Indexed: 01/05/2023]
Abstract
An enormous increase in the application of wireless communication in recent decades has intensified research into consequent increase in human exposure to electromagnetic (EM) radiofrequency (RF) radiation fields and potential health effects, especially in school children and teenagers, and this paper gives a snap overview of current findings and recommendations of international expert bodies, with the emphasis on exposure from Wi-Fi technology indoor devices. Our analysis includes over 100 in vitro, animal, epidemiological, and exposure assessment studies (of which 37 in vivo and 30 covering Wi-Fi technologies). Only a small portion of published research papers refers to the “real” health impact of Wi-Fi technologies on children, because they are simply not available. Results from animal studies are rarely fully transferable to humans. As highly controlled laboratory exposure experiments do not reflect real physical interaction between RF radiation fields with biological tissue, dosimetry methods, protocols, and instrumentation need constant improvement. Several studies repeatedly confirmed thermal effect of RF field interaction with human tissue, but non-thermal effects remain dubious and unconfirmed.
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L M, S A, Menon SK. A novel and effective technique to reduce electromagnetic radiation absorption on biotic components at 2.45 GHz. Electromagn Biol Med 2022; 41:184-200. [PMID: 35352614 DOI: 10.1080/15368378.2022.2046048] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/03/2022]
Abstract
A strong evidence of the effects of radiation absorption on the living community together with a better solution to reduce the radiation intensity without compromising the usage of wireless communication systems is presented. This study analyses the radiation effects on living things and validates the proposed techniques for specific absorption rate (SAR) value reduction at 2.45 GHz. To reduce these radiation impacts on the living community, proper shielding from the radiation and effectively reorienting antenna radiation patterns are the solutions suggested. An analogous antenna configuration in wireless communication systems - a coplanar waveguide fed loop antenna is considered and an open loop resonator (OLR) optimized in ANSYS HFSS at 2.45 GHz is incorporated on the back side of the proposed antenna for achieving SAR value reduction. Theoretical and experimental validation is carried out by measuring the variation in absorption power on each vegetable sample using vector network analyzer E5080A. The existence of OLR on the back side of the antenna reduces the absorption power upto 2 dB. From experimental validation, the proposed technique provides 88% to 98% reduction in SAR value when tested in each sample. Along with this OLR exhibits the capability to enhance the shielding characteristics to the controlled environment of experimental setup for analyzing the stages of seed germination, which helps in reducing the reported radiation effects and growth retardation. The proposed method of EMR reduction with miniaturized planar resonator can be effectively used in the communication systems operating at 2.45 GHz for creating a reduced radiation environment.
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Affiliation(s)
- Meenu L
- Center for Wireless Networks & Applications (WNA), Amrita Vishwa Vidyapeetham, Amritapuri, India
| | - Aiswarya S
- Center for Wireless Networks & Applications (WNA), Amrita Vishwa Vidyapeetham, Amritapuri, India
| | - Sreedevi K Menon
- Department of Electronics and Communication Engineering, Amrita Vishwa Vidyapeetham, Amritapuri, India
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