This is one bit of news that will get members of the male population sperming, err, squirming.
A number of health conditions have been associated with using smartphones, including cancer. However, a comparison of previous studies on the effect of cell phones on male fertility has revealed that exposure to such mobile devices "lowered sperm motility by 8%, and viability by 9%," Time reported. This is largely due to the fact that the gadgets emit low level electromagnetic radiation (EMR), which "can disturb normal cell functions and even sleep."
"Previous studies suggested several ways that the magnetic fields might be wreaking havoc on sperm - they could be generating DNA damage by promoting more unstable oxygen compounds," the news source explained. "Or, because most men carry their phones in their pants pockets, the fields, which can cause up to a 2.3C temperature increase on the skin, could be raising the temperature of the testes enough to suppress and interfere with normal sperm production."
The comparative study was done by a team of researchers led by University of Exeter's Dr. Fiona Mathews. She and her group "analyzed 10 previous studies, seven of which involved the study of sperm motility, concentration and viability in the lab, and three that included male patients at fertility clinics." The research covered a total of 1,492 samples.
"This study strongly suggests that being exposed to radio-frequency electromagnetic radiation from carrying mobiles in trouser pockets negatively affects sperm quality," Dr. Mathews said, as noted by The Daily Mail. "This could be particularly important for men already on the borderline of infertility, and further research is required to determine the full clinical implications for the general population."
The authors of the said study, which was featured in the journal Environment International, also warned that "cumulative" radiation from modern technology, including Internet Wi-Fi, may also have a "cumulative" impact on sperm.
"For example, recent evidence found wifi from laptops also negatively affected sperm quality. A better understanding of the collective influence of environmental factors on sperm quality and subsequent fertility, will help improve treatment, advice and support for individuals seeking fertility treatment," the paper's authors wrote.
This should get men fishing out their Apple iPhones and Samsung Galaxies from their pockets.
However, a researcher fro Sheffield University, Dr. Allan Pacey, said that he is unconvinced of this argument as the evidence is lacking. As such, he will not be one of those keeping his smartphone out of his own pocket.
"In my opinion, the studies undertaken to date have been somewhat limited in scope because they have either irradiated sperm kept in a dish or they have made assessments of men's phone habits without adequately controlling for confounding variables, such as other aspects of their lifestyle," he revealed to the BBC. "What we need are some properly designed epidemiological studies where mobile phone use is considered alongside other other lifestyle habits."