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Safety concerns related to magnetic field exposure

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Abstract

The recent development of superconducting magnets has resulted in a huge increase in human exposure to very large static magnetic fields of up to several teslas (T). Considering the rapid advances in applications and the great increases in the strength of magnetic fields used, especially in magnetic resonance imaging, safety concerns about magnetic field exposure have become a key issue. This paper points out some of these safety concerns and gives an overview of the findings about this theme, focusing mainly on mechanisms of magnetic field interaction with living organisms and the consequent effects.

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Notes

  1. Paramagnetism is the tendency of the atomic magnetic dipoles to align with an external magnetic field. Paramagnetic materials are attracted when subjected to an applied magnetic field. Diamagnetism is a property of all materials and opposes applied magnetic fields, but is very weak. Paramagnetism, when present, is stronger than diamagnetism and produces magnetization in the direction of the applied field, and proportional to the applied field.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Departamento de Farmácia, Universidade Federal do Rio Grande do Norte, Rua Praia Areia Branca, 8948, Natal, RN, 59094-450, Brazil

    Amanda K. Andriola Silva, Érica L. Silva & E. Sócrates T. Egito

  2. Programa de Pós-Graduação em Ciências da Saúde, Universidade Federal do Rio Grande do Norte, Natal, RN, Brazil

    Amanda K. Andriola Silva

  3. Departamento de Física Teórica e Experimental, Universidade Federal do Rio Grande do Norte, Natal, RN, Brazil

    Artur S. Carriço

Authors
  1. Amanda K. Andriola Silva
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  2. Érica L. Silva
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  3. E. Sócrates T. Egito
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  4. Artur S. Carriço
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Correspondence to E. Sócrates T. Egito.

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Silva, A.K.A., Silva, É.L., Egito, E.S.T. et al. Safety concerns related to magnetic field exposure. Radiat Environ Biophys 45, 245–252 (2006). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00411-006-0065-0

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00411-006-0065-0

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