Several mainstream news outlets have misstated and overstated a possible link between cellular phone use and decreased fertility in men.  A single experiment, which has not yet been published in any peer reviewed journal or replicated by other scientists, observed an average decrease in sperm motility and an increase in free radicals among laboratory sperm samples that were exposed to radiation similar to the radiation produced by cellular phone use.  
Dr. Ashok Agarwal of the Cleveland Clinic estimates the overall health impact of cellular phones as "very safe" and reassured a Cable News Network reporter that the research was too premature to advise lifestyle changes for the public.  "Our study has not provided proof that you should stop putting cell phones in your pocket. There are many things that need to be proven before we get to that stage."  He noted that his own cell phone was in his trouser pocket while he was giving the interview.  Dr. Agarwal is the lead researcher for the study and Director of the Center for Reproductive Medicine at the Cleveland Clinic.  
Cell phone industry spokesman Joe Farren agreed with Dr. Agarwal's assessment about the devices' overall safety: "The weight of the published scientific evidence, in addition to the opinion of global health organizations, shows that there is no link between wireless usage and adverse health effects."
The controlled experiment used sperm samples from thirty-two donors: twenty-three healthy men and nine men who had fertility problems.  Sperm were then exposed to radiation for one hour at 850 megahertz, the most common frequency for cell phones in the United States.  Dr. Agarwal's study raises a possible concern that cell phones kept on belts or trouser pockets and used in conjunction with wireless bluetooth earpieces "could cause harmful effects due to the proximity of the phones and the exposure that they are causing to the gonads."  He also noted that follow-up research is needed to determine whether the body's skin and other tissue affords protection from the potential damage.
Several news sources ran misleading reports that overstated the risk.
The Los Angeles Times asserted a fallacious causal relationship that Dr. Agarwhal had not drawn and ignored his opinions that cellular phones are safe and no change in phone use is necessary.  Instead, the piece opened by ordering men to stop keeping cell phones in their pockets:
Ciol News ran a similar account:
Mobile Magazine went a step further, also alluding to previous media exaggerations about cellular phone dangers:
Mobile Magazine also ended in a misleading manner with "I wonder if it's healthier to put your phone in your shirt pocket instead," failing to mention that Dr. Agarwal had addressed that concern and had called it an unnecessary precaution.
Not all news sources overplayed the findings.  CNN and United Press International ran balanced reports that did not suggest dangers or precautions beyond the lead researcher's conclusions.


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Media reports exaggerate cell phone risks again