Semen Quality and Hormone Levels Among Radiofrequency Heater Operators

Details

• Personal Author:
  Conover, David L. ; Cox, Clinton ; Edwards RM ; Evenson DP ; Grajewski, Barbara A. ; Murray, William E. Jr. ; Schrader, Steven M. ; Shekar SS ; Simon SD ; Smith JM ; Turner TW
• Description:
  Approximately 9,000,000 US workers are occupationally exposed to radiofrequency (RF) radiation; over 250,000 operate RF dielectric heaters. Our purpose was to determine whether male RF heater operators experience increased adverse reproductive effects reflected in reduced semen quality or altered hormone levels. We measured incident RF heater radiation exposures and RF-induced foot currents at four companies. For 12 male heater operators and a comparison group of 34 RF-unexposed men, we measured 33 parameters of semen quality and four serum hormones. Despite wide variation in individual exposure levels, near field strengths and induced foot currents did not exceed current standard levels and guidelines. We observed minor semen quality and hormonal differences between the groups, including a slightly higher mean follicle-stimulating hormone level for exposed operators (7.6 vs 5.8 mIU/mL). Further occupational studies of RF-exposed men may be warranted. [Description provided by NIOSH]
• Subjects:
  Endocrine System Hot Temperature Men Occupational Health Radiation Safety Urogenital Diseases Urogenital System
• Keywords:
  Heat Exposure Heating Equipment Heat Production Hormone Activity Hormones Radiation Exposure Radiation Hazards Reproductive Effects Reproductive System Disorders
• ISSN:
  1076-2752
• Document Type:
  Text
• Genre:
  Journal Article
• Place as Subject:
  Ohio ; OSHA Region 5
• CIO:
  National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH)
• Division:
  DSHEFS - Division of Surveillance, Hazard Evaluations, and Field Studies ; DBBS - Division of Biomedical and Behavioral Sciences
• Topic:
  Workplace Safety & Health
• Location:
  North America
• Volume:
  42
• Issue:
  10
• NIOSHTIC Number:
  nn:20020684
• Citation:
  J Occup Environ Med 2000 Oct; 42(10):993-1005
• Contact Point Address:
  National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health, 4676 Columbia Parkway, Cincinnati, OH 45226
• Federal Fiscal Year:
  2001
• NORA Priority Area:
  Reproductive System Disorders
• Peer Reviewed:
  True
• Source Full Name:
  Journal of Occupational and Environmental Medicine
• Collection(s):
  National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health
• Main Document Checksum:
  urn:sha-512:225a29bd397d5cda9e04045387a10701322584ee25c8e15b3c569ae4c8e25295723cba5894cd33195481598cdcbcf470f3809e2645a436852e71aab30d19c812
• Download URL:
  https://stacks.cdc.gov/view/cdc/198365/cdc_198365_DS1.pdf
• File Type:
  [PDF - 183.70 KB ]