The unfavourable outcomes of mobile phone use on male fertility have still not been fully elaborated. To establish the potentially adverse effects of everyday exposure to radiofrequency radiation (RF) on humans, we performed a controlled animal study that aimed to investigate the infl uence of RF radiation on rat testis histology as well as the amount, mobility, and structure of epididymal free sperm cell population. Eighteen adult male rats were divided into two groups of nine. One group comprised sham-exposed control animals, while the other group endured total body irradiation for an hour daily during two weeks. A 915 MHz RF fi eld, power density of 2.4 W m -2 and strength of 30 V m -1 was generated in a Gigahertz Transversal Electromagnetic chamber. The specifi c absorption rate (SAR) was 0.6 W kg -1 . Body mass and temperature were measured before and after each exposure treatment. Immediately after the last exposure, the animals were sacrifi ced and testes removed and prepared for histological analysis. The free sperm cells were collected from the cauda epididymis and their quantity, quality, and morphology were microscopically determined using a haemocytometer. No statistically signifi cant alteration in any of the endpoints was observed. This study found no evidence of an unfavourable effect of the applied RF radiation on testicular function or structure. Based on these results, we can conclude that short-time intermittent exposure to RF radiation does not represent a signifi cant risk factor for rat reproductive functions.

No abstract

During a study of indoor fungal colonisation, several isolates of Stachybotrys chartarum were recovered, and the effects of metabolites from four isolates on lung epithelial Type II cells and alveolar macrophages were studied in vitro. All the isolates showed toxic effects on both cell types, and they differed only in the extent of the changes induced. In Type II cells, the number of alkaline phosphatase positive cells was reduced, the pattern of Maclura pomifera agglutinin (MPA) binding was changed, and acid phosphatase activity in alveolar macrophages was diminished. In both cell types, the production of monocyte chemotactic protein-1 (MCP-1) and tumour necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-alpha) was changed, and parameters related to antioxidant status (superoxide dismutase, glutathione peroxidase, glutathione) were decreased.

There are several reports about chronic intoxications, allergies or other pulmonary health problems of dwellers (especially babies) and workers from buildings contaminated with microfungi. Material from presented work was collected during the study of indoor fungal colonization of mouldy dwellings and public buildings in Slovakia. The isolated fungi were cultivated for 10 days in liquid media and their products -both endo-and exometabolites were isolated. The metabolites from four isolates of Stachybotrys chartarum, two of Aspergillus versicolor and one of Penicillium chrysogenum were used. Their effects were studied in vitro on rat alveolar epithelial type 2 cells, from the toxicological point of view one of the most important lung cells type. Type 2 cells were cultured for 20 hours in DMEM and then they were exposed for 24 hours to various concentrations of metabolites. The toxicity was evaluated by staining the cells for alkaline phosphatase which is a marker for this cell type. The toxic effect of metabolites from all isolates of Stachybotrys chartarum was dose dependent, there were differencies in the extent of cytotoxicity. From the tested microorganisms Stachabotrys chartarum and Aspergillus versicolor showed high toxic effects (Stachybotrys higher than Aspergillus), while Penicillium chrysogenum only minor toxic effects in this test.

No abstract