A Panorama investigation found that the radiation in schools emitted from wireless (or ‘wifi’) computers was up to three times higher than that from cell phone masts, prompting critics to question whether it is safe to install them where children congregate.
A recent study found that wifi may affect the neural activity in men’s brains and cause memory problems and computers have in the past been linked to infertility or sub-fertility, so wifi certainly has a chequered and controversial history and research into its safety is inconclusive.
Now, a man’s use of his wifi computer has again been found to damage sperm DNA.
After Four Hours Near a Computer, Sperm Stopped Swimming
Scientists from Virginia, USA, took sperm samples from 29 donors and put some of the samples in a petri dish near a working wifi laptop computer. After four hours exposure to the computer, the number of immotile sperm (sperm that couldn’t swim) was greatly increased while the sperm that hadn’t been exposed to the radiation remained the same. DNA fragmentation also increased in the wifi irradiated group. Up to 8.6% had DNA damage compared with up to 3.3% of the samples not exposed to wifi.
Damaged DNA can prevent sperm from fertilizing an egg and result in male factor infertility. It can result in the woman miscarrying the pregnancy or it can result in a genetically abnormal baby with disabilities.
The study authors wrote:
‘In the present study we demonstrate that laptop computers connected wirelessly to the internet decrease sperm quality by a nonthermal effect. The results demonstrate a significant decrease in sperm progressive motility and a significantly higher proportion of sperm with DNA fragmentation when samples were incubated for 4 hours under the laptop... Laptop computer usage has increased significantly in recent years, especially in people of reproductive age.
Frequently laptops are connected to the internet through Wi-Fi and commonly placed on the lap near the testes.... in this regard it has been proposed that the increased use of certain new technologies may decrease fertility potential by increasing long-term exposure to non-ionizing radiation.’
Laptops Heat up Sperm
The State University of New York found that when men used a laptop on their lap for two, 60 minute sessions it heated up their scrotum to a level that was incompatible with the survival of sperm. Repetitive scrotal hyperthermia may be a modern day cause of infertility in some men.
Ways to Reduce Your Exposure to Wifi
- Connect your computer to the internet with a wire. Wireless internet providers usually give an option to their customers to connect the old fashioned way.
- Limit your computer usage and take frequent breaks.
- Don’t put the computer on your lap. Place it on a desk or table.
Sources:
2. Effects of wi-fi signals on the p300 component of event-related potentials during an auditory hayling task, Journal of Integrated Neuroscience,2011 Jun;10(2):189-202.
3. Wi-Fi: A warning signal, Panorama, 20th May 2007.
4. Increase in scrotal temperature in laptop computer users, Hum Reprod 2005; 20:452-5.
Joanna Karpasea-Jones - I have been a health writer since 1997 when I published my own newsletter, SHOTS. I have written 2 books on childhood health, and write ...
