Abstract

Overview

Humans are consistently exposed to electromagnetic fields (EMF) due to technological advancements. Understanding the biological impacts of EMF, particularly at the genomic level on the reproductive system, is pivotal.

• This study aims to distinguish between the negative and positive effects of EMF on both animal and human reproductive systems.
• An extensive literature review was conducted utilizing databases including Web of Science, PubMed, MEDLINE, Google Scholar, Science Direct, and Scopus.

Findings

Concerns about EMF exposure primarily focus on non-thermal effects impacting cellular functions, highlighted in numerous studies. Genotoxic effects often manifest as DNA damage due to increased oxidative stress, where ROS (Reactive Oxygen Species) plays a critical role. EMF exposure increases ROS production by activating NADH oxidase activity on cellular membranes.

Conclusion

The review underscores the significant influence of EMF emitted from mobile phones on fertility by altering genotoxic pathways. Although inconsistent findings are prevalent in current literature, pointing out the necessity for further detailed investigations to explore DNA damage mechanisms and apoptotic pathways in germ cells during oogenesis and spermatogenesis.