Keep your sperm away from mobile phones, heated car seats

Alex Zaharov-Reutt
Tuesday, 21 October 2008 04:40

Opinion and Analysis

If you’re a guy that uses a mobile phone, the latest research suggests that using a mobile phone could be bad for sperm health, although the study in question used a machine that created the same sort of radiation for 16 hours straight on sperm for damage to appear.

Your mobile phone generates the most radiation when you’re actually on a phone call, so if you keep it in your pants pocket when making a call, you might want to reconsider doing that if the latest scientific research is to be believed.

A report in the Sydney Morning Herald indicates the findings of a preliminary study conducted at the University of Newcastle which built a sperm irradiation device to see what effects it would have on man’s little wrigglers.

Turns out the sperm’s DNA showed signs of damage, although constant exposure to 16 hours worth of mobile radiation will probably do that to any living thing placed right next to it.

Of course no-one is on their phones for 16 hours straight, but the cumulative effect of ongoing mobile phone radiation is what scientists and consumers have been worrying about for a long time, so much so that all mobile phones have a SAR rating indicating just how much radiation they emit.

Although the study is reported to be the “first of its kind”, it’s claimed the report backs up US research which indicates “heavy mobile phones” have an up-to 40% lower sperm count.

It certainly makes you wonder whether we should also be worried about Wi-Fi and Bluetooth radiation, as well as the mobile radiation produced by 3.5G wireless broadband cards and USB dongles which have become increasingly common for today’s mobile computer users.

Will we need to find another way of safely transmitting wireless information in the future if these fears turn out to be true? Does any form of safely wireless transmission exist?

Still, all of the relevant authorities insist that these mobile devices are safe to use, at least in moderation, while taking simple steps like using a wired headset and keeping your phone as far away from your body as possible are available to anyone, as is turning off the Wi-Fi and plugging into an Ethernet connection, if available.

In the modern world, virtually everything seems bad for us, even fruits and vegetables with too many pesticides, so no matter what the scientists discover next, the simple answer is moderation and common sense.

That, and making do without constant seat warming if your car has it, something else that has supposedly led to lower sperm counts in some male drivers.

Alternatively, someone could find that selling shielded underwear is the next big techno health hit and massive money spinner – hey, you heard it here first!