Environmental Electromagnetic Field and Female Fertility

Human beings are unavoidably exposed to ambient electromagnetic fields (EMFs) generated by every instrument that uses electricity. Electromagnetic fields are made by the combination of an electric field and a magnetic field and is propagated in a wave like manner. Thus sometimes called electromagnetic waves and or electromagnetic radiation. Under such condition the indoor and outdoor environment we live are bombarded by electromagnetic waves/radiations produced by home appliances; such as computer, television , mobile phone, industrial instruments; such as power transmission lines railway stations, medical and diagnostic tools; such as MRI, physiotherapy equipments and so on. The EMF which we are encountered everywhere, have a non ionizing nature and has two distinct parts; electrical and magnetic. The electrical part is generated by a voltage gradient and measured in volts. The magnetic part is produced by current flow and is measured in tesla. Therefore in any field, we are exposed to an electrical voltage gradient and a magnetic field. The electrical field is due to the difference between the voltage of the electricity used by the device and earth. The magnetic field is proportional to the current flowing through the device. Both types of field would induce biological effects, but magnetic field is more damaging because it penetrates living tissue more easily. Magnetic fields as low as around one microtesla can produce biological effects ( Goldsworthy 2007; Sage et al. 2007; Jokela et al. 2004 ). The effect of EMF on human health vary widely depending on the frequency and intensity of the fields. Extremely low frequencies (ELF) such as those from home appliances are more potent than higher frequencies of radio waves (Genuis 2007; Zymslony 2007; Torregrossa 2005). According to WHO, EMFs of all frequencies represent one of the most common and fastest growing environmental influences, about which anxiety and speculation are spreading. All populations are now exposed to varying degree of EMF, and the levels will continue to increase as technology advances. It is obvious that in almost all societies the ambient EMFs are encountered everywhere and cause unavoidable exposure. There are body of information regarding adverse effects of EMF, especially chronic exposure to EMF (Wu 2008; Marek 2004; Adey 1993). Thus the concern about the public health hazards of EMFs has highly increased.