TITLE:
The Effects of Distance and Duration of Exposure to Electromagnetic Radiation of Hair Dryer on Rat Sperm Parameters
AUTHORS:
Shirin Safari, Seyed Mohammad Javad Mortazavi, Niloofar Aghazade, Yousof Mousavi
KEYWORDS:
Electromagnetic Field, Microwaves, Hair Dryer, Sperm Motility
JOURNAL NAME:
Journal of Biosciences and Medicines,
Vol.8 No.6,
May
26,
2020
ABSTRACT: Background: As a part of modern life, using electromagnetic field exposure has
increased. EMFs might produce a variety of adverse effects on different parts
of human body including the reproductive system. The consequences of exposure
to the emitted EMFs from a hair dryer on sperm parameters were the major
concerns of the present study. Materials and Methods: Fifty four adult
Male Sprague-Dawley rats were randomly assigned to 9 groups. Samples from all
experimental groups received exposure with two different modes: switch on (hot
wind) and switch off (cold wind). Samples of group 1 (control) maintained under
experimental conditions without any exposure. The exposure protocol for samples
in groups 2 to 9 were 10 cm at 10 min—on, 10 cm at 10 min—off, 10 cm at 20 min—on, 10 cm at 20 min—off, 20 cm at 10 min—on, 20 cm at 10 min—off, 20 cm at 20 min—on, 20 cm at 20 min—off. After exposure sperm motility was analyzed with a light
microscope as a blind experiment. Nonparametric tests were used to detect
statistically significant differences between different groups. Results: Findings
of our study indicated no significant changes in the frequency of sluggish and non-motile sperms
of rats in the control group compared to all treatment groups and showed statistically significant differences between the
relative frequency of progressive sperms in control group rats compared
to all treatment groups except groups 2 and 7. There were no statically
significant changes between groups with different
time and distance. Sperm count and morphology were not affected by microwave
emitted from hair dryer. Conclusion: Exposure to the hair dryer
microwaves affects sperm motility, which is amongst the key parameters
determining the chance of conceiving.