Prof. Ganiyu Arinola, a Senior Lecturer of Immunology at the
University of Ibadan, has said cell-phone radiation might likely cause male
infertility.
Arinola,
the Head of Department of Chemical Pathology, University College Hospital
(UCH), told the interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) that there had
been a public attention on the issue.
The
attention focused on safety radiations from laptops on laps and cell- phones on
belts and in pockets, and on sperm damage.
“This
growing body of concern calls for special focus considering the fact that
infertility had been reported to affect certain percentages of couples of
reproductive age.
“It
is worthy of note that nearly half of these percentages have been linked to
male infertility.
“It
must be borne in mind that other factors, including exposure to certain
environmental pollutants, lifestyle, occupation or infections of the urinary
genital tract have been linked with infertility of the male.
“Cell
-phone in pockets or in belts, is recently proposed to be the cause of
infertility, especially in the males, “ he said.
Arinola
said that there had been studies carried out using various methodologies linking
cell- phones radiation to male infertility and different results were produced.
According
to the immunologist, opinions differed as to the possible mechanism by which
cell-phones radiation might produce these changes in the short time of putting
cell -phones in the male pockets.
“Radiation
from cell phones is said to affect sperm structure, mobility/movement, number,
vitality or being alive for expected length of time and in time.
“But
it is known that millions of sperm cells are released during mating and only
one sperm is needed to fertilise the egg of the female.
“The
likelihood is that all the sperms might not be damaged at the same time and in
the short time of putting cell-phones in the pocket.
“This
brings to where men place or keep cell-phones. Men put cell=phones I the
pockets of shirts or suits, car saves, on belts or hands which are not in
direct contact with testis sac.
“Thus
human body, such as layers of skin, bone and tissue offer protection from
direct radiation from cell-phone.
“More
so, sperm releases by males are surrounded by fluids which provide a nutritive
and protective medium for spermatozoa during their journey through the female
reproductive tract.
“The
normal environment of the vagina is acidic (from microflora producing lactic
acid) viscous and patrolled by immune cells.
“All
the same, reason of sperm damage was suggested to be the production of “toxic”
or reactive oxygen species by radiation from cell-phones,” he said.
Arinola
further explained that the reactive oxygen species are particularly harmful to
living cells and proteinous substances which our body sperm cells and
supporting materials are made-up of.
According
to him, the production of oxygen species by cell-phone radiation raises the
possibility, that cell-phone radiation as a result of careless placements and
long term use could be contributing to sperm damage and therefore demand
further investigation.
“Based
on the proposed health risks from cell-phone radiation, it is advised that
simple, precautionary safe-cell-phone-habits be practiced in order to protect
health and fertility.
“Men,
in particular should avoid carrying a cell-phone on the belt, in pockets of
trousers when in use. This is a wake-up call to male cell-phone users who are
trying to have children in the future.
“Therefore,
users of cell-phones are advised to be cautious of duration of phone
possession, frequency of daily use, length of use and where they are kept,” he
said.
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