Radiofrequency electromagnetic fields; male infertility and sex ratio of offspring.
Concern is growing about exposure to electromagnetic fields and male reproductive health. The authors performed a cross-sectional study among military men employed in the Royal Norwegian Navy, including information about work close to equipment emitting radiofrequency electromagnetic fields, one-year infertility, children and sex of the offspring. Among 10,497 respondents, 22% had worked close to high-frequency aerials to a "high" or "very high" degree. Infertility increased significantly along with increasing self-reported exposure to radiofrequency electromagnetic fields. In a logistic regression, odds ratio (OR) for infertility among those who had worked closer than 10 m from high-frequency aerials to a "very high" degree relative to those who reported no work near high-frequency aerials was 1.86 (95% confidence interval (CI): 1.46-2.37), adjusted for age, smoking habits, alcohol consumption and exposure to organic solvents, welding and lead. Similar adjusted OR for those exposed to a "high", "some" and "low" degree were 1.93 (95% CI: 1.55-2.40), 1.52 (95% CI: 1.25-1.84), and 1.39 (95% CI: 1.15-1.68), respectively. In all age groups there were significant linear trends with higher prevalence of involuntary childlessness with higher self-reported exposure to radiofrequency fields. However, the degree of exposure to radiofrequency radiation and the number of children were not associated. For self-reported exposure both to high-frequency aerials and communication equipment there were significant linear trends with lower ratio of boys to girls at birth when the father reported a higher degree of radiofrequency electromagnetic exposure.
Baste
Valborg
V
Department of Public Health and Primary Health Care, Section for Occupational Medicine, UNIFOB AS, University of Bergen, Kalfarveien 31, 5018 Bergen, Norway. valborg.baste@isf.uib.no
Riise
Trond
T
Moen
Bente E
BE
D000328:Adult; D016001:Confidence Intervals; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D004574:Electromagnetic Fields / Q000009:adverse effects*; D006801:Humans; D007248:Infertility, Male / Q000453:epidemiology*; D016015:Logistic Models; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D008889:Military Personnel; D009664:Norway / Q000453:epidemiology; D009784:Occupational Diseases / Q000453:epidemiology*; D016273:Occupational Exposure / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D016017:Odds Ratio; D015995:Prevalence; D011846:Radio Waves / Q000009:adverse effects*; D012307:Risk Factors; D012650:Self Disclosure; D012744:Sex Ratio; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires