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Context - Do static magnetic or electric fields used for instance in medical imaging pose health risks?
Medical imaging devices (such as MRI scanners), trains, and television sets are examples of man-made equipment that can generate static magnetic or electric fields.
In some areas of research and medical imaging, stronger and stronger static magnetic fields are being used.
What is known so far about potential health consequences?
This Digest is a faithful summary of the leading scientific consensus report produced in 2006 by the World Health Organization (WHO): "
Electric and magnetic fields are invisible lines of force generated by phenomena such as the Earth’s magnetism, thunderstorms, and the use of electricity.
When such fields do not vary with time they are referred to as static.
Such static fields are different from fields that change over time, such as those generated by appliances using alternating current (AC) or by cell phones etc. More...
Static electric fields occur naturally in the atmosphere, particularly under thunderclouds, and can lead to lightning strikes.
Friction, for example from walking on a carpet, can generate strong static electric fields and lead to sparks.
The use of direct current (DC), for instance in some rail systems, can also produce static electric fields, and so can televisions and computer screens1. More...
The Earth’s natural magnetic field is perceived by certain animals that use them for orientation. Man-made static magnetic fields are generated wherever DC currents are used, such as in electric trains or industrial processes such as aluminium production. These can be more than 1 000 times stronger than the Earth’s natural magnetic field.
Recent technological innovations have led to the use of magnetic fields up to 100 000 times stronger than the Earth’s magnetic field.
They are used in research and in medical applications such as magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) which provides three-dimensional images of the brain and other soft tissues. Scanned patients and machine operators can therefore be exposed to very strong magnetic fields. More...
4.1 Static magnetic fields could interact with the body in the following ways. They could:
4.2 The interactions of biological tissue with a static magnetic field depend on the physical properties of the field, such as the strength and direction of the field at a given location inside the body. Interactions with the body that are likely to be of most consequence for health occur when there is movement in the field because of body motion or blood flow.
The use of increasingly stronger machines in medical imaging makes interactions with the body more likely. It has become a priority to gain a better understanding of these interaction mechanisms, through computer modelling as well as experimental observations. More...
5.1 Studies on cells are useful for understanding interaction mechanisms between biological tissue and static magnetic fields. They can indicate what sorts of effects might be investigated in animals and humans. Studies on static magnetic fields suggest a range of possible effects, but the validity of most findings has not been tested by other researchers so far, so no firm conclusions can be drawn about possible effects on human health. More...
5.2 In the few studies on the effects of static electric fields on animals that have been carried out, no negative health effects have been noted, other than the perception of body hair movement or small electric shocks.
For static magnetic fields, a large number of animal studies have been carried out, indicating:
Moreover, few studies have examined possible long term effects of exposure, particularly in relation to cancer. Conclusions on such effects can not be drawn at present. More...
6.1 Static electric fields do not enter the body. However, they cause an electric charge on the body surface which can result in movement of body hairs or spark discharges, such as those experienced when touching a doorknob after walking on a carpet.
A range of possible health effects of static magnetic fields has been studied, such as possible effects on the brain, blood pressure, and body temperature as well as possible therapeutic effects. Apart from vertigo and nausea reported by people moving in a field, there is no conclusive evidence of any significant effects, nor can such effects be ruled out. More...
6.2 Studies on health effects due to exposure in the workplace almost exclusively focused on workers exposed to moderate static magnetic fields generated by equipment using large DC currents, such as aluminium smelters. Among such workers, increased risks of various cancers have been reported, but results are not consistent across studies. These workers are exposed to a variety of other potential hazards, which makes the exact cause of any observed effects unclear. The data available so far is inadequate for a health evaluation. More...
On the whole, the data for exposure to static electric fields suggest that the only negative health effects are the direct perception of body hair movement and small shocks. Long term effects of static electric fields have not been investigated.
For static magnetic fields, short-term exposure to very strong fields does seem to induce a number of measurable effects in the body. Computer simulations suggest possible effects on the heart of electric currents induced by blood flowing through a strong magnetic field, although this has not been experimentally verified.
Moving within a very strong static magnetic field can create sensations of vertigo and nausea, and sometimes a metallic taste in the mouth and the perception of light flashes. Although only temporary, such effects may adversely affect people, which raises safety concerns for workers executing delicate procedures (such as surgeons performing operations using MRI).
Other short term effects of static magnetic fields have been reported, but since the experiments have not been repeated by other researchers in order to test the validity of the results it is difficult to draw any firm conclusion. Furthermore, there is not enough evidence to reach any conclusion on long term effects such as cancer. More...
National authorities should set up programs to protect both the public and workers from possible negative effects of static fields.
9.1 No further research concerning biological effects from exposure to static electric fields is recommended, since neither significant exposure nor health effects are very likely. More...
9.2 For static magnetic fields, research carried out to date has not been systematic and has often been performed without appropriate methodology and exposure information.
Recommendations for research on exposure to static magnetic fields:
Electric and magnetic fields are invisible lines of force generated by phenomena such as the thunderstorms, the Earth’s magnetism, and the use of electricity.
Man-made static electric fields are for instance produced by friction, television screens, or the use of direct current (DC) in some rail systems. Though static electric fields can be perceived through body hair movement and small shocks, no other negative health effects have been observed and no further research is recommended.
Man-made static magnetic fields can be more than 1 000 times stronger than the Earth’s natural magnetic field, in the case of industries using direct current (DC), and up to 100 000 times stronger in the case of new technologies such as magnetic resonance imaging (MRI). The Earth’s weak magnetic field is perceived by some animals that use it for orientation. In people moving in very strong static magnetic fields vertigo and nausea have been reported, but there is no conclusive evidence of other significant health effects, nor can such effects be ruled out. The use of increasingly stronger fields makes interactions with the body more likely and further research is needed to investigate possible health effects of strong fields and long-term exposure.
National authorities are advised to set up programs to protect both the public and workers from possible negative effects of static fields, and to fund research to fill gaps in the knowledge
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