A word of caution for men trying to have kids: your laptop may be impacting the quality of your sperm.
In the first scientific study of its kind, researchers found Wi-Fi on laptops could be causing damage to your sperm's DNA.
Researchers studied how exposure to Wi-Fi enabled laptops, or the microwave radiation, impacted sperm production. They found men exposed for only four hours experienced measurable DNA damage to their sperm and a reduction in movement, or motility, of the sperm.
"The word is cautionary," said Dr. Dale McClure, Urologist and male fertilityspecialist from the University of Washington at Seattle. "I don't think we should rush out and stop using laptops, but I think if you're using a laptop, maybe not keep it on your groin."
The study was presented by Argentine researchers here in Denver at the American Society for Reproductive Medicine conference.
We asked men and women using laptops at Stella's Coffee Haus on South Pearl Street how it might impact their laptop use.
"Would it stop me from using my computer? Probably not. Would it make me take it off my lap? Maybe," said Craig Rangel, who said he already has one child and is thinking about another.
"At this point in life, because I'm not considering kids, I don't think it would even enter my mind," said Kristina Stamatis, a high school teacher who is single.
"I don't know how else I'd function without (my laptop)," said Nat Ridder, who is also single and childless, "And right now ... sperm count doesn't count for a lot in my lifestyle."
"Our society has kind of pushed us to a point business-wise where you don't really have a choice. You kind of have to use your computer all the time," said Dale Greer, a wine dealer who said he and his wife are considering having children.
An earlier study on microwave radiation from cell phones led scientists to determine it can reduce sperm quality. So now they recommend not carrying your cell phone in your pocket.
Until more definitive research is done you might want to keep your laptop away from your groin as well.
(Read by Renee Haines. Renee Haines is a journalist at the China Daily Web site.)
(Agencies)
给那些想要小孩的男人提个醒:你的笔记本电脑也许正在影响你的精子质量。 研究人员在首例该类型的科学研究中发现,笔记本电脑的无线网络可能会对你的精子的DNA造成损害。 研究人员研究了无线上网本的微波辐射是如何影响精子生成的。他们发现,男性只要暴露在这样的微波辐射下达四个小时,他们的精子DNA就会受到明显损害,精子的运动能力也会下降。 来自西雅图的华盛顿大学泌尿科医生、男性生殖专家戴尔•麦克卢尔博士说:"这是一个警告。我不认为我们应该立刻停止使用笔记本电脑,但是我觉得如果你正在使用的话,最好不要把笔记本放在大腿上。" 在丹佛举行的美国生育医学界大会上,阿根廷研究人员提交了这一研究报告。 我们调查了在南珀尔街的星星咖啡屋使用笔记本电脑的男性和女性,问他们这一研究结果是否会影响他们对笔记本的使用。 克雷格•兰格尔说:"你问这是否会让我停止使用笔记本电脑?很可能不会。是否会让我把笔记本从大腿上拿开?有可能。"兰格尔说他已经有了一个小孩,正想再要一个。 克里斯提娜•斯塔玛提斯是一名单身的高中老师。她说:"在人生的这个阶段,因为我没考虑生小孩,所以我觉得自己根本不会往这方面去想。" 纳特•里德也是一名没有子女的单身人士。他说:"我不知道没有它(我的笔记本)我要怎么活。而且就目前来看,精子数量对我的生活影响不大。" 戴尔•格里尔是一位酒商,他说他和妻子正打算要小孩。他说:"我们的社会驱使着我们去商业化,其实你并没有选择。你总是不得不使用电脑。" 先前一项关于手机微波辐射的研究让科学家认为这些辐射会降低精子质量。所以现在他们建议不要把手机放在口袋里。 在更确定的研究结果出来之前,你可能也会想把你的笔记本电脑从你的大腿上拿开。
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