The Fundamental Reasons Why Laptop Computers should not be Used on Your Lap

• Published in: Journal of biomedical physics and engineering Vol. 6; no. 4; pp. 279 - 284
• Main Authors: Mortazavi, S A R, Taeb, S, Mortazavi, S M J, Zarei, S, Haghani, M, Habibzadeh, P, Shojaei-Fard, M B
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Iran Journal of Biomedical Physics and Engineering 01.12.2016; Shiraz University of Medical Sciences
• Subjects: Electromagnetic Fields; Heat; Laptop Computers; Posture; Safety; Short Communication; Laptop Computers; Heat; Electromagnetic Fields; Safety; Posture
• ISSN: 2251-7200

As a tendency to use new technologies, gadgets such as laptop computers are becoming more popular among students, teachers, businessmen and office workers. Today laptops are a great tool for education and learning, work and personal multimedia. Millions of men, especially those in the reproductive age, are frequently using their laptop computers on the lap (thigh). Over the past several years, our lab has focused on the health effects of exposure to different sources of electromagnetic fields such as cellular phones, mobile base stations, mobile phone jammers, laptop computers, radars, dentistry cavitrons and Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI). Our own studies as well as the studies performed by other researchers indicate that using laptop computers on the lap adversely affects the male reproductive health. When it is placed on the lap, not only the heat from a laptop computer can warm men's scrotums, the electromagnetic fields generated by laptop's internal electronic circuits as well as the Wi-Fi Radiofrequency radiation hazards (in a Wi-Fi connected laptop) may decrease sperm quality. Furthermore, due to poor working posture, laptops should not be used on the lap for long hours.