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Electromagnetic Radiation and Oxidative Stress in the Male Germ Line

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Book cover Studies on Men's Health and Fertility

Abstract

The beneficial impacts of mobile-based communications on society are considerable. Health concerns over the broadcast of radio frequency electromagnetic waves, which carry the information for this medium, are now gaining momentum but are not without its controversies. Studies in the past that aim to determine whether concerns are warranted are sometimes lacking in impact because of poor understanding of radiation science. Nevertheless, the studies completed to date are important in developing the field toward the goal of confirming or disproving claims that radio frequency electromagnetic radiation (RF-EMR) is a serious health issue. We focus on what has been achieved to date, toward determining the effects of RF-EMR on the male reproductive system and information presented which may underpin the potential mechanisms at play. We suggest that oxidative stress may have a key role in the detrimental effects observed in the human spermatozoon and that this cell type may be a unique model to determine the potential mechanism of action given its sensitivities to such stressors.

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Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Biological Sciences, University of Newcastle, Life Sciences, University Drive, Callaghan, NSW, 2308, Australia

    Geoffry N. De Iuliis PhD, Bsc (Hons)

  2. Department of Physics, School of Mathematical and Physical Sciences, University of Newcastle, Callaghan, NSW, 2308, Australia

    Bruce V. King PhD, Elect Eng (Hons), BSc

  3. Department of Biological Sciences, University of Newcastle, Callaghan, NSW, 2308, Australia

    R. John Aitken PhD, ScD

Authors
  1. Geoffry N. De Iuliis PhD, Bsc (Hons)
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  2. Bruce V. King PhD, Elect Eng (Hons), BSc
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  3. R. John Aitken PhD, ScD
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Corresponding author

Correspondence to Geoffry N. De Iuliis PhD, Bsc (Hons) .

Editor information

Editors and Affiliations

  1. Center for Reproductive Medicine, Department of Urology, Cleveland Clinic, Euclid Avenue 9500, Cleveland, 44195, Ohio, USA

    Ashok Agarwal

  2. Faculty of Science and IT, Department of Biological Sciences, University of Newcastle, University Drive 1, Callaghan, 2308, New South Wales, Australia

    R. John Aitken

  3. , Department of Male Infertility, Centro Androgen, C/FERNANDO MACIAS 8, 1ºC, La Coruña, 15004, La Coruña, Spain

    Juan G. Alvarez

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De Iuliis, G.N., King, B.V., Aitken, R.J. (2012). Electromagnetic Radiation and Oxidative Stress in the Male Germ Line. In: Agarwal, A., Aitken, R., Alvarez, J. (eds) Studies on Men's Health and Fertility. Oxidative Stress in Applied Basic Research and Clinical Practice. Humana Press. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-61779-776-7_1

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