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There appears to be little benefit in continuing research into the effects of static electric fields on health. None of the studies conducted to date suggest any negative health effects, except for possible stress resulting from prolonged exposure to very small electric shocks. Furthermore significant exposure to static electric fields at home or at work is not very likely.
Therefore, no further research concerning biological effects from exposure to static electric fields is recommended. More...
For static magnetic fields, research carried out to date has not been systematic and has often been performed without appropriate methodology and exposure information. Coordinated research programs are recommended as an aid to a more systematic approach.
Along with studies on cells, animals and humans, computer simulations can help understand the link between an external static magnetic field, the internal electric fields and induced currents in moving living tissues. Some models have been widely used in studies with time-varying electromagnetic fields such as those generated by powerlines. However, very little work has been done with static fields, and more refined models should be developed. More...
| Research Needs | Priority | |
|---|---|---|
| Computer models More... | Women and pregnant women (and not only adult males) | Medium |
| Induced currents in the head (leading to visual phosphenes and vertigo) | High | |
| Electric currents in the heart (considering effects on heart beat) | High | |
| Fetus(considering currents induced by movements in a strong field) | High | |
| In vitro studies on cells More... | Effects on the interaction of ions (e.g. Ca 2+ or Mg 2+) with enzymes and on other biochemical reactions | Medium |
| Role in development of mutations in human cells | High | |
| Possible effects on gene expression in human cells using techniques such as proteomics and genomics | Low | |
| Experimental studies with animals More... | Cancer and other possible effects of long term exposure | High |
| Possible effects on development (particularly of the brain) | High | |
| Fields of more than 10 000 mT | Medium | |
| Broad animal studies covering different possible effects | Low | |
| Experimental studies with volunteers More... | Possible effects on the organ of balance and on head and eye coordination (relevant to interventional MRI) | High |
| Possible effects on cognitive performance and behavior | Medium | |
| Possible effects on heart and blood circulation | Low | |
| Epidemiological studies More... | For rare diseases such as cancer, feasibility studies are needed in order to see if highly exposed occupational groups could be assessed in international epidemiological studies | High |
| Cohort study of short-term effects in highly exposed occupations (including MRI technicians, workers at aluminium smelting plants, and certain transportation workers) | High | |
| Pregnancy outcomes in relation to occupational exposure and MRI examinations | High | |
| Reliable exposure measurement through the use of personal dosimeters | High | |
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