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Karbalay-Doust S, Darabyan M, Sisakht M, Haddadi G, Sotoudeh N, Haghani M, Mortazavi SMJ. Extremely Low Frequency-Electromagnetic Fields (ELF-EMF) Can Decrease Spermatocyte Count and Motility and Change Testicular Tissue. J Biomed Phys Eng 2023; 13:135-146. [PMID: 37082547 PMCID: PMC10111108 DOI: 10.31661/jbpe.v0i0.2011-1234] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/23/2020] [Accepted: 01/18/2021] [Indexed: 04/22/2023]
Abstract
Background Substantial evidence indicates that exposure to extremely low frequency-electromagnetic fields (ELF-EMFs) affects male reproductive system. Objective The goal of this study was to evaluate the effects of long-term irradiation with ELF-EMF on sperm quality and quantity and testicular structure. Material and Methods In this case-control study, sixty male Sprague-Dawley rats were randomly divided into six groups. Experimental groups were exposed to ELF-EMF (50 Hz EMF, 100 µT) for either 1 h/day for 52 days (Group 1), 4 h/day for 52 days (Group 3), 1 h/day for 5 days (Group 5), 4 h/day for 52 days (Group 7). Groups 2, 4, 6 and 8 were only sham exposed at durations equal to Groups 1, 3, 5 and 7, respectively. Results Both count and motility of sperms were significantly decreased in animals exposed to ELF-EMF (1 h/day for 52 days, 4 h/day for 52 day, and 4 h/day for 5 days) compared to the sham-exposed groups (P<0.05). Serum testosterone levels showed a significant decrease in the animals exposed to ELF-EMF (4 h/day for 5 days) compared to the control groups (P<0.05). A significant decrease was observed in the volume of the seminiferous tubules, seminiferous tubules epithelium and interstitial tissue in the animals exposed to ELF-EMF for 4 h/day for 5 days. Tubules length was also reduced by 18% in animals exposed to ELF-EMF (4 h/day for 5 days). Conclusion Our results show that ELF-EMF can reduce spermatocyte count and motility and is able to induce structural changes in testicular tissue.
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Affiliation(s)
- Saeid Karbalay-Doust
- Histomorphometry and Stereology Research Center, Shiraz University of Medical Sciences, Shiraz, Iran
- Department of Anatomy, Shiraz University of Medical Sciences, Shiraz, Iran
| | - Maryam Darabyan
- Department of Radiology, Faculty of Paramedical Sciences, Shiraz University of Medical Sciences, Shiraz, Iran
| | - Mohsen Sisakht
- Department of Medical Biochemistry, Shiraz University of Medical Sciences, Shiraz, Iran
| | - Gholamhassan Haddadi
- Department of Radiology, Faculty of Paramedical Sciences, Shiraz University of Medical Sciences, Shiraz, Iran
| | - Narges Sotoudeh
- Department of Anatomy and Histomorphometry and Stereology Research Center, Shiraz University of Medical Sciences, Shiraz, Iran
| | - Masoud Haghani
- Department of Radiology, Faculty of Paramedical Sciences, Shiraz University of Medical Sciences, Shiraz, Iran
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Geretto M, Ferrari M, De Angelis R, Crociata F, Sebastiani N, Pulliero A, Au W, Izzotti A. Occupational Exposures and Environmental Health Hazards of Military Personnel. INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF ENVIRONMENTAL RESEARCH AND PUBLIC HEALTH 2021; 18:5395. [PMID: 34070145 PMCID: PMC8158372 DOI: 10.3390/ijerph18105395] [Citation(s) in RCA: 19] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/30/2021] [Revised: 05/05/2021] [Accepted: 05/09/2021] [Indexed: 01/20/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Military personnel are frequently exposed to environmental pollutants that can cause a variety of diseases. METHODS This review analyzed publications regarding epidemiological and biomonitoring studies on occupationally-exposed military personnel. RESULTS The exposures include sulfur mustard, organ chlorines, combustion products, fuel vapors, and ionizing and exciting radiations. Important factors to be considered are the lengths and intensities of exposures, its proximity to the sources of environmental pollutants, as well as confounding factors (cigarette smoke, diet, photo-type, healthy warrior effect, etc.). Assessment of environmental and individual exposures to pollutants is crucial, although often omitted, because soldiers have often been evaluated based on reported health problems rather than on excessive exposure to pollutants. Biomarkers of exposures and effects are tools to explore relationships between exposures and diseases in military personnel. Another observation from this review is a major problem from the lack of suitable control groups. CONCLUSIONS This review indicates that only studies which analyzed epidemiological and molecular biomarkers in both exposed and control groups would provide evidence-based conclusions on exposure and disease risk in military personnel.
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Affiliation(s)
- Marta Geretto
- Department of Experimental Medicine, University of Genoa, 16132 Genoa, Italy;
| | - Marco Ferrari
- Texas Biomedical Research Institute, 8715 W. Military Drive, San Antonio, TX 78227, USA;
| | - Roberta De Angelis
- Department of Oncology and Molecular Medicine, Istituto Superiore di Sanità, 00161 Rome, Italy;
| | - Filippo Crociata
- General Inspectorate of Military Health, 00184 Rome, Italy; (F.C.); (N.S.)
| | - Nicola Sebastiani
- General Inspectorate of Military Health, 00184 Rome, Italy; (F.C.); (N.S.)
| | | | - William Au
- Faculty of Medicine, Pharmacy, Science and Technology University of Medicine, Pharmacy, Science and Technology, 540142 Targu Mures, Romania;
- Department of Preventive Medicine and Community Health, University of Texas Medical Branch, Galveston, TX 77555, USA
| | - Alberto Izzotti
- Department of Experimental Medicine, University of Genoa, 16132 Genoa, Italy;
- IRCCS Ospedale Policlinico San Martino, 16132 Genoa, Italy
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Li JH, Jiang DP, Wang YF, Yan JJ, Guo QY, Miao X, Lang HY, Xu SL, Liu JY, Guo GZ. Influence of electromagnetic pulse on the offspring sex ratio of male BALB/c mice. ENVIRONMENTAL TOXICOLOGY AND PHARMACOLOGY 2017; 54:155-161. [PMID: 28735146 DOI: 10.1016/j.etap.2017.06.015] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/08/2016] [Revised: 05/27/2017] [Accepted: 06/20/2017] [Indexed: 06/07/2023]
Abstract
Public concern is growing about the exposure to electromagnetic fields (EMF) and its effect on male reproductive health. Detrimental effect of EMF exposure on sex hormones, reproductive performance and sex-ratio was reported. The present study was designed to clarify whether paternal exposure to electromagnetic pulse (EMP) affects offspring sex ratio in mice. 50 male BALB/c mice aged 5-6 weeks were exposed to EMP daily for 2 weeks before mated with non-exposed females at 0d, 7d, 14d, 21d and 28d after exposure. Sex hormones including total testosterone, LH, FSH, and GnRH were detected using radioimmunoassay. The sex ratio was examined by PCR and agarose gel electrophoresis. The results of D0, D21 and D28 showed significant increases compared with sham-exposed groups. The serum testosterone increased significantly in D0, D14, D21, and D28 compared with sham-exposed groups (p<0.05). Overall, this study suggested that EMP exposure may lead to the disturbance of reproductive hormone levels and affect the offspring sex ratio.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jin-Hui Li
- Department of Radiation Medicine, Faculty of Preventive Medicine, Fourth Military Medical University, Xi'an, Shaanxi, 710032, China; Institute of Disease Control and Prevention, Academy of Military Medical Science, Beijing, 100071, China
| | - Da-Peng Jiang
- Academy of Military Medical Science, Beijing, 100071,China
| | - Ya-Feng Wang
- Navy Center for Disease Control and Prevention, Beijing, 101113, China
| | - Jia-Jia Yan
- The First Affiliated Hospital of Xi'an Medical College University, Xi'an, Shaanxi, 710077, China
| | - Qi-Yan Guo
- Department of Radiation Medicine, Faculty of Preventive Medicine, Fourth Military Medical University, Xi'an, Shaanxi, 710032, China
| | - Xia Miao
- Department of Radiation Medicine, Faculty of Preventive Medicine, Fourth Military Medical University, Xi'an, Shaanxi, 710032, China
| | - Hai-Yang Lang
- Department of Radiation Medicine, Faculty of Preventive Medicine, Fourth Military Medical University, Xi'an, Shaanxi, 710032, China
| | - Sheng-Long Xu
- Department of Radiation Medicine, Faculty of Preventive Medicine, Fourth Military Medical University, Xi'an, Shaanxi, 710032, China
| | - Jun-Ye Liu
- Department of Radiation Medicine, Faculty of Preventive Medicine, Fourth Military Medical University, Xi'an, Shaanxi, 710032, China.
| | - Guo-Zhen Guo
- Department of Radiation Medicine, Faculty of Preventive Medicine, Fourth Military Medical University, Xi'an, Shaanxi, 710032, China.
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Histopathological changes associated with oxidative stress induced by electromagnetic waves in rats' ovarian and uterine tissues. ASIAN PACIFIC JOURNAL OF REPRODUCTION 2016. [DOI: 10.1016/j.apjr.2016.06.008] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/18/2022] Open
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Cucurachi S, Tamis WLM, Vijver MG, Peijnenburg WJGM, Bolte JFB, de Snoo GR. A review of the ecological effects of radiofrequency electromagnetic fields (RF-EMF). ENVIRONMENT INTERNATIONAL 2013; 51:116-140. [PMID: 23261519 DOI: 10.1016/j.envint.2012.10.009] [Citation(s) in RCA: 71] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/18/2012] [Revised: 10/23/2012] [Accepted: 10/24/2012] [Indexed: 06/01/2023]
Abstract
OBJECTIVE This article presents a systematic review of published scientific studies on the potential ecological effects of radiofrequency electromagnetic fields (RF-EMF) in the range of 10 MHz to 3.6 GHz (from amplitude modulation, AM, to lower band microwave, MW, EMF). METHODS Publications in English were searched in ISI Web of Knowledge and Scholar Google with no restriction on publication date. Five species groups were identified: birds, insects, other vertebrates, other organisms, and plants. Not only clear ecological articles, such as field studies, were taken into consideration, but also biological articles on laboratory studies investigating the effects of RF-EMF with biological endpoints such as fertility, reproduction, behaviour and development, which have a clear ecological significance, were also included. RESULTS Information was collected from 113 studies from original peer-reviewed publications or from relevant existing reviews. A limited amount of ecological field studies was identified. The majority of the studies were conducted in a laboratory setting on birds (embryos or eggs), small rodents and plants. In 65% of the studies, ecological effects of RF-EMF (50% of the animal studies and about 75% of the plant studies) were found both at high as well as at low dosages. No clear dose-effect relationship could be discerned. Studies finding an effect applied higher durations of exposure and focused more on the GSM frequency ranges. CONCLUSIONS In about two third of the reviewed studies ecological effects of RF-EMF was reported at high as well as at low dosages. The very low dosages are compatible with real field situations, and could be found under environmental conditions. However, a lack of standardisation and a limited number of observations limit the possibility of generalising results from an organism to an ecosystem level. We propose in future studies to conduct more repetitions of observations and explicitly use the available standards for reporting RF-EMF relevant physical parameters in both laboratory and field studies.
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Affiliation(s)
- S Cucurachi
- Institute of Environmental Sciences (CML), Leiden University, P.O. Box 9518, 2300 RA Leiden, The Netherlands.
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