# RF-022 — Reproductive endpoints at 3.5 and 24 GHz

Why this matters
This rat study brings reproductive endpoints into research at 3.5 and 24 GHz. It reported changes in sperm function and biological signals in the testes. Yet dose at the animals and reproductive-organ temperature were not measured, preventing a confident separation of RF effects from heating or a comparison with human limits.

Id: RF-022

Author: Syed Taha et al.

Full Authors: Syed Muhamad Asyraf Syed Taha; Farah Hanan Fathihah Jaffar; Atikah Hairulazam; Sivasatyan Vijay; Norazurashima Jamaludin; Aini Farzana Zulkifli; Mohd Farisyam Mat Ros; Khairul Osman; Zahriladha Zakaria; Mohd Amyrul Azuan Mohd Bahar; Siti Fatimah Ibrahim

Year: 2025

Title: Prolonged 3.5 GHz and 24 GHz RF-EMF Exposure Alters Testicular Immune Balance, Apoptotic Gene Expression, and Sperm Function in Rats

Journal: biomedicines

Citation: Syed Taha SMA, Jaffar FHF, Hairulazam A, Vijay S, Jamaludin N, Zulkifli AF, Mat Ros MF, Osman K, Zakaria Z, Mohd Bahar MAA, Ibrahim SF. Prolonged 3.5 GHz and 24 GHz RF-EMF Exposure Alters Testicular Immune Balance, Apoptotic Gene Expression, and Sperm Function in Rats. Biomedicines. 2025;13(10):2471. doi:10.3390/biomedicines13102471.

Doi: 10.3390/biomedicines13102471

Pmid: 41153756

Topic: Newer frequencies

Verification Group: Original text reviewed

Record Role: Original text reviewed

Featured: False

Exposure: 3.5 or 24 GHz; one or seven hours/day for 60 days.

Design: Six rat groups, n=6 per group, including corresponding controls.

Finding: Authors report frequency/duration-specific sperm-function, cytokine and apoptosis-gene changes.

Boundary: The methods explicitly state that animal-position SAR/power density and scrotal/core temperatures were not measured. No below-limit or nonthermal attribution is justified. Original methods describe a 24–24.25 GHz presence-detector module, not demonstrated 5G NR traffic. Transmitter output/EIRP is not animal absorbed dose.

Related: UKM research programme with WEB-009 and WEB-010. Overlapping methods/authors warrant treating publications as a cluster; animal/cohort independence is not established.

Protection Question: Can the reported reproductive effects be separated from heating and quantified exposure? Without verified absorbed dose or organ temperature, neither a nonthermal mechanism nor harm under human-limit conditions follows.

Access: Full indexed article body reviewed

Locator: Exposure Experimental Setup; Conclusions

Notice: Primary PubMed linked-notice record checked 20 Oct 2026; no correction, concern or retraction linked at check. This is not an exhaustive publisher-history certification.

Funding: Not established from retrieved material.

Conflicts: Not established from retrieved material.

Source Url: https://doi.org/10.3390/biomedicines13102471

Retrieval Links: https://doi.org/10.3390/biomedicines13102471 | https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/41153756/

Verification Date: 2026-10-21

Technology Tracks: 5g