Response to comment on “In vitro effect of pulsed 900 MHz GSM radiation on mitochondrial membrane potential and motility of human spermatozoa” by Falzone et al.

Abstract

We have recently reported on the effect of a900MHz Global System for Mobile Communications(GSM) mobile phone on the mitochondrial membranepotential(MMP)andmotilityofhumanspermatozoaattwo specific absorption rates (SAR) of 2.0 and 5.7W/kg,respectively.NoeffectwasnotedonMMPateitherSAR level. This was also the case for all kinematicparameters assessed at a SAR of 2.0W/kg. However,over time the two kinematic parameters, straight linevelocity (VSL) and beat-cross frequency (BCF), weresignificantly impaired (P<0.05) after the exposure toSAR of 5.7W/kg.These findings are being questioned on the basisthat the text description and results in Figure 6 are notin line, and that the P-values quoted for VSL are notsignificant. We regret that an error occurred with thepublication of Figure 6 [Falzone et al., 2008], and thecontrol and RF-exposed values of BCF at SAR of5.7W/kg should be transposed. Furthermore, the P-valuequotedforVSLwasinfact0.047,roundedto0.05,which remains statistically significant. We can there-fore not agree to the suggestion to change the text toindicate that there was no significant harmful effectnoted at an exposure of 5.7W/kg on either BCF(P¼0.04) or VSL (P¼0.047, rounded to P¼0.05),as there were significant effects noted.Figure 1shows a statistically significant effect onBCF for a SAR of 5.7W/kg.Weapologizeforthiserrorandtheinconveniencecaused.REFERENCE