Naked Science Forum

Life Sciences => Physiology & Medicine => Topic started by: thedoc on 05/04/2011 18:37:18

Title: Do phones kept in the pocket cause testicular problems?
Post by: thedoc on 05/04/2011 18:37:18

Men shouldn't keep their cell phone in their front pocket because of testicle cancer, are there studies to confirm this?
Asked by @mykie213


                                       

Go to the show page. (http://www.thenakedscientists.com/HTML/podcasts/specials/wcsj/show/2011.04.03/)

                                       

 

Title: Do phones kept in the pocket cause testicular problems?
Post by: thedoc on 05/04/2011 18:37:18

We put this question to Professor Paul Elliott, Imperial College London...
Paul - This isn’t something that is easy to study.  There isn’t really any evidence to suggest that mobile phones have an effect on fertility, but it is an open question and it’s certainly something for example that the WHO (World Health Organization) are interested in.  We don't really have a lot of data on that in our study because the exposure assessment is relying on the use of the phone and when it’s being used rather when it’s sitting quiet.  Of course, exposure is much less when you're not actually speaking; it’s just hand-shaking to the mobile phone base station.