HEALTH

Study: Wi-Fi laptop radiation harmful to sperm, fertility

A new study published in Fertility and Sterility suggests Wi-Fi is to blame

November 29th, 2011 by Nicholas Whittaker | Permalink

For those trying to conceive, a new report out of Argentina may get your attention. Wi-Fi from laptop computers may reduce sperm count.

Before and after depiction of sperm count. Wi-Fi devices such as laptops, IPads and cell phones create electromagnetic radiation that may be harmful to living cells. Image via Wiki Commons.

Researchers compared semen samples from 29 men in good health. Some of the samples were placed under a laptop with Wi-Fi, while others were held at the same temperature away from the computer. In the Wi-Fi sample, 25% had stopped swimming compared to less than 1/6 in the samples not directly exposed to the wireless signal.

In the study published in the Fertility and Sterility medical journal, researcher write, ”At present we do not know whether this effect is induced by all laptop computers connected by Wi-Fi to the Internet or what use conditions heighten this effect.”

According to scientists, wireless Internet devices like laptops, IPads, and cell phones generate electromagnetic radiation or EMF. It can also be generated by cell phone towers, microwaves, radio waves and even the wiring in homes. EMF is said to interfere with the molecules in living things and has been tied to a mixed bag of health issues such as DNA and brain cell damage, certain kinds of cancers even, suicide, miscarriage and asthma, according to the website, EM Watch.

Critics disagree with this theory on varying levels. According to the Centers for Disease Control, “evidence for production of harmful biological effects is ambiguous and unproven.”

Of the recent fertility study, one doctor suggests, ”This is not real-life biology, this is a completely artificial setting. It is scientifically interesting, but to me it doesn’t have any human biological relevance.”

Researchers in this study found that a non Wi-Fi laptop created minimal EMF, compared to a Wi-Fi enabled one. Regardless of the EMF implications in the study, the effects of using a laptop actually on your lap have been proven risky, based on thermal effects alone.

http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/45469130/ns/health-mens_health/#.TtTU_WNCoXk