Does telecom masts, keeping phone in pocket affect sperm, cause cancer? – Fertility expert explains
In this article, Victor Oyetayo Olawuyi, a Biomedical/Fertility Scientist and CEO of Genesis Medical Diagnostics Centre, Ogbomoso, Oyo state, provides clarifications, based on scientific evidence, on certain misconceptions surrounding mobile phones causing cancer, heating up sperm cells, and that it produces excessive heat whose intensity is high enough to cook eggs.
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Misconception 1: Mobile phones can cook eggs
The claim that a mobile phone can cook an egg through electromagnetic radiation is scientifically incorrect. Mobile phones emit non-ionizing radiation in the form of radiofrequency (RF) waves. These RF waves do not produce enough energy to generate significant heat to cook an egg. In fact, non-ionizing radiation is fundamentally different from the ionizing radiation produced by X-rays or gamma rays, which can damage DNA and cells (World Health Organization, 2014). The heat generated by mobile phones is too insignificant to cook food, and this myth has been debunked by scientific experiments.
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Misconception 2: Mobile phones damage sperm cells
The idea that carrying a mobile phone in the pocket can “cook” the scrotum or damage sperm cells is based on a misunderstanding of how mobile phones work. While some studies have suggested a slight correlation between prolonged mobile phone exposure and reduced sperm quality, this is far from conclusive. According to Adams et al. (2014), there may be a minor association between prolonged mobile phone use and sperm quality, but more significant factors like body heat, tight clothing, and lifestyle choices have a greater impact on male fertility. Non-ionizing radiation from mobile phones does not have the energy to “cook” or denature sperm.
Misconception 3: Mobile phones cause cancer
There is widespread fear that mobile phones cause cancer, but scientific evidence does not support this claim. Mobile phones emit RF radiation, which has been classified as a “possible carcinogen” (Group 2B) by the International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC), meaning there is limited evidence of its potential to cause cancer in humans (IARC, 2011). However, this classification is based on limited evidence, and many everyday items, such as coffee and pickled vegetables, are in the same category. Current studies, including those from the World Health Organization and the National Cancer Institute (2023), conclude that there is no consistent or strong evidence linking mobile phones to cancer. The radiation from mobile phones is non-ionizing and lacks the energy to cause cellular damage at typical levels of exposure.
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Misconception 4: Cell masts and health risks
The message also claims that communication masts cause cancer within 10 to 15 years, which is another unfounded fear. Communication masts emit low levels of RF radiation, which is heavily regulated by organizations like the International Commission on Non-Ionizing Radiation Protection (ICNIRP) to ensure public safety (ICNIRP, 2020). Notes that living near a communication mast has not been definitively linked to cancer or other health risks. Studies have consistently shown that the radiation emitted from these masts is well within safe limits and poses no significant health threats.
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Thus while it is always good to take precautions, such as using hands-free devices and limiting prolonged exposure to mobile phones, the fear of radiation “cooking” sperm or causing cancer is scientifically unfounded. The public should rely on credible, evidence-based information from trusted sources, such as the World Health Organization and International Agency for Research on Cancer.
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Conclusion
The claims presented in the original message are based on misconceptions and a lack of understanding of how mobile phones and RF radiation work. Mobile phones do not emit enough energy to cook eggs, damage sperm, or cause cancer. By relying on scientifically-backed information, Olawuyi (2024) hopes to dispel these myths and encourage the public to use technology safely and wisely.
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References
Adams, J.A., Galloway, T.S., Mondal, D., Esteves, S.C. and Mathews, F., 2014. Effect of mobile telephones on sperm quality: a systematic review and meta-analysis. Environment International, 70, pp.106-112.
International Agency for Research on Cancer, 2011. IARC classifies radiofrequency electromagnetic fields as possibly carcinogenic to humans. [online] Available at: https://www.iarc.who.int/wp-content/uploads/2018/07/pr208_E.pdf [Accessed 24 Sept. 2024].
International Commission on Non-Ionizing Radiation Protection, 2020. Guidelines for limiting exposure to electromagnetic fields (100 kHz to 300 GHz). Health Physics, 118(5), pp.483-524.
National Cancer Institute, 2023. Cell Phones and Cancer Risk. [online] Available at: https://www.cancer.gov/about-cancer/causes-prevention/risk/radiation/cell-phones-fact-sheet [Accessed 24 Sept. 2024].
Olawuyi, O.V., 2024. Dispelling Myths: Mobile Phones and Health Risks. Genesis Medical Diagnostics Centre.
World Health Organization, 2014. Electromagnetic fields and public health: mobile phones. [online] Available at: https://www.who.int/news-room/fact-sheets/detail/electromagnetic-fields-and-public-health-mobile-phones [Accessed 24 Sept. 2024].
