Health risks for medical personnel due to magnetic fields in magnetic resonance imaging
Abstract
Overview
This comprehensive review summarizes the current scientific and medical knowledge regarding the effects of occupational exposure to electromagnetic fields (EMF) on medical personnel working with clinical magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) systems.
Systematic Review Process
- A total of 7,273 sources were initially identified.
- After screening titles and abstracts, 7,139 sources were excluded.
- Full-text screening led to the inclusion of 34 sources in this analysis.
Findings
- Short-term Sensory Effects: Documented effects include vertigo, metallic taste, phosphenes, and neurocognitive as well as neurobehavioral changes.
- Performance Impairment: Short-term exposure to clinical magnetic fields may result in a 4% reduction in speed and precision for task performance, and a 16% reduction in visual contrast sensitivity at close range, directly affecting eye-hand precision and coordination speed.
- Long-term Effects: Main concerns involve the impact of magnetic fields on sleep quality, a factor potentially associated with increased risk of occupational accidents and injuries for healthcare workers.
- Pregnancy and Magnetic Fields: Data related to exposure during pregnancy is outdated, but available evidence does not show significant differences in pregnancy duration, preterm births, miscarriages, or birth weight in exposed healthcare workers. Nonetheless, legitimate concern remains due to lack of recent, high-quality data.
Conclusion
- Epidemiological data on the long-term health consequences of EMF exposure for healthcare workers are clearly lacking.
- There is a substantial need for more research—particularly high-quality studies—on both the chronic adverse effects of exposure to electromagnetic fields in clinical MRI settings and on sensitive populations, such as pregnant workers.
- Noteworthy: Even in the absence of overt pregnancy deviations, acute and chronic EMF exposure is demonstrably linked to neurocognitive and sensory effects, and potential sleep disturbances, underlining the importance of ongoing vigilance for EMF-related health risks in clinical environments.