Hypospermatogenesis and spermatozoa maturation arrest in rats induced by mobile phone radiation.

OBJECTIVE: To determine the morphological changes induced by mobile phone radiation in the testis of Wistar albino rats. STUDY DESIGN: Cohort study. PLACE AND DURATION OF STUDY: Department of Physiology, College of Medicine, King Saud University, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, from April 2007 to June 2008. METHODOLOGY: Forty male Wistar albino rats were divided in three groups. First group of eight served as the control. The second group [group B, n=16] was exposed to mobile phone radiation for 30 minutes/day and the third group [group C, n=16] was exposed to mobile phone radiation for 60 minutes/day for a total period of 3 months. Morphological changes in the testes induced by mobile phone radiations were observed under a light microscope. RESULTS: Exposure to mobile phone radiation for 60 minutes/day caused 18.75% hypospermatogenesis and 18.75% maturation arrest in the testis of albino rats compared to matched controls. However, no abnormal findings were observed in albino rats that were exposed to mobile phone radiation for 30 minutes/day for a total period of 3 months. CONCLUSION: Long-term exposure to mobile phone radiation can cause hypospermatogenesis and maturation arrest in the spermatozoa in the testis of Wistar albino rats.

Personal formaldehyde exposure level in the gross anatomy dissecting room at College of Medicine King Saud University Riyadh.

INTRODUCTION: This study was conducted to correlate the personal formaldehyde (FA) exposure levels of instructors and students with the indoor FA concentrations in gross anatomy laboratory at King Saud University. The personal FA levels of instructors and students are higher than the indoor FA concentration in the gross anatomy laboratory. MATERIALS AND METHODS: The gross anatomy laboratory at college of medicine, King Saud University Riyadh, was observed for indoor FA concentration and the personal exposure levels of instructors and the medical students during the 4th, 10th and 14th weeks of the dissection sessions. All air samples were collected by the diffusive sampling device and analyzed by using high performance liquid chromatography (HPLC). RESULTS: The personal exposure level of FA was higher than the indoor concentration, and the personal exposure levels of instructors were higher than that of the students. The concentration of FA was also higher in the center of the room than the corners and near the doors. CONCLUSION: Both the indoor FA concentrations and personal FA exposure levels are higher near the dissecting table than at locations away from it during the gross anatomy laboratory sessions. Thus, the instructors and students are exposed to the higher concentration of FA than the general population.