(NaturalNews) A new scientific study has revealed yet another health hazard associated with mobile phones: A drastic reduction in viable sperm cells was found in nearly half of men tested who carry their phones in their pants pockets or near their testicles.

The study, which was conducted by a team of specialists at Technion University in Haifa, and published in the journal Reproductive BioMedicine, found that active sperm levels in 47 percent of men who carried their cellphones in their pockets, or within a foot or two of the pelvic region, were much lower than those of the general population.

Even men who didn't carry their phones in their pants pockets were found to have low sperm counts if they talked on their phones for more than an hour per day.

The sperm levels in these men were low enough to cause possible conception difficulties, according to the researchers.

It appears that the radiation from the phones is literally "cooking" mens' sperm cells. One of the researchers, Professor Martha Dirnfeld, said:

"We analysed the amount of active swimming sperm and the quality and found that it had been reduced.

"We think this is being caused by a heating of the sperm from the phone and by electromagnetic activity."
 

Male infertility on the rise in Western countries

Cellphones have already been suspected by many to be linked to infertility, and this study supports the theories. Infertility is an increasing problem in men from Western countries, and lowered sperm counts are the cause in as many as 40 percent of the cases of couples who have problems conceiving children.

British fertility consultant Professor Gedis Grudzinskas said:

"Men need to think about their well being and try to stop being addicted to their phones.

"If you wear a suit to work put the mobile in your chest pocket instead of close to your testes. It will reduce the risk of your sperm count dropping or dropping so much."

Professor Dirnfeld agrees:

"I think this is a warning to men to change their habits to improve their chances of having children. Women generally don't carry their mobiles on them so maybe a mobile phone won't affect their fertility. That's not something we have looked at."
 

Other health risks associated with mobile phone usage

Infertility is not the only danger to health linked to the use of mobile phones.