With a billion users worldwide, the answer is vitally important to uncover.
Heavy cell phone use may be affecting the quality and quantity of a man’s sperm.
Preliminary research from the Cleveland Clinic came from 361 men at an infertility clinic questioned about their cell phone use.
The more hours the men spent on their cell phone, the lower the sperm count and the greater the percentage of abnormal sperm.
The theory is that over time, electromagnetic energy emitted from cell phones harms body tissue.
Findings are published in the journal of Fertility and Sterility, 2008.
"Our results show a strong association of cell phone use with decreased semen quality. However, they do not prove a cause-and- effect relationship," lead researcher Dr. Ashok Agarwal told Reuters Health.
The researchers found that the more time a man spent on his cell phone each day, the lower the sperm count and sperm quality. Generally more than four hours each day resulted in the lowest readings.
On the horizon- Agarwal and his colleagues are exposing semen samples to electromagnetic radiation from cell phone to see what occurs.
In a second study- a larger group of men will be questioned about their cell phone use and that compared to the semen quantity and quality. In this study, other lifestyle habits and occupational exposures will be quantified.
Previous research from the Medical College of Wisconsin found rats exposed to two 3-hour periods of cell phone emissions had significantly higher incidence of sperm cell death. That exposure lasted 18 weeks.
That study was published in the October issue of Fertility and Sterility. The control group did not show the abnormal sperm cell death.
Researchers in Hungary found that having a cell phone on a belt or a pocket was enough to reduce sperm count and viability.
Cell phone use has been linked to a higher risk of brain tumors with long-term use. Other studies do not confirm the link.
Italian researchers have found that cell phones excite the brain cortex nearest the phone. The amount of harm is uncertain.
A 2007 study in Sweden found more incidents of headaches and disturbed sleep with cell phone use.
In a little over 20 years, cell phones have rapidly overtaken land line use. There are currently more than a billion cell phone users world wide.
Half of all U.S. children reportedly have a cell phone, making research into their affects vital. #