By Agencies
Startling new research into mobile phones claims they may reduce a mans sperm count by up to 30%, the British Sunday Times newspaper has said.
The study is the first to indicate that male fertility may be damaged by radiation given off by handsets.
Men who carry a mobile phone in a belt holster or their trouser pocket are most at risk from the threat.
Even many of those sperm that did survive exposure to mobiles were partially damaged, further reducing fertility, the study said.
But while the research suggests an effect, the scientists say further work is needed to confirm the finding.
The paper by Dr. Imre Fejes of the obstetrics and gynaecology department at the University of Szeged in Hungary, will be released at a conference in Berlin, Germany, tomorrow.
Fejes wrote, The prolonged use of cell phones may have a negative effect on spermatogenesis (sperm production) and male fertility, that deteriorates both concentration and motility.
Unlike previous studies, says The Sunday Times, researchers believe phones may cause damage while in stand-by mode as they still make regular transmissions to the nearest radio masts. It had been assumed such transmissions were too short to cause harm.
Published on: Monday, 28th June, 2004 (NV)
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