Exposure, health complaints and cognitive performance among employees of an MRI scanners manufacturing department.
OBJECTIVE
To assess sensory effects and other health complaints that are reported by system testers working near magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) magnets, realizing that it is believed that exposure up to 8 T is safe for humans.


METHODS
Levels of exposure to static magnetic fields (SMFs), movement speed during exposure, health complaints, and cognitive performance among employees in an MRI-manufacturing department and at a reference department have been analyzed. Mercury concentrations in urine samples were determined to analyze whether they depend on exposure to SMFs.


RESULTS
Average exposure of system testers was 25.9 mT/8 hours at a 1.0-T system and 40.4 mT/8 hours at a 1.5-T system. Vertigo, metallic taste, and concentration problems were more reported among workers of MRI-fabrication than in the reference department. Cognitive performance was tested outside the SMF, and no significant changes were detected.


CONCLUSIONS
This study suggests that any effects on cognitive functions are acute and transient and disappear rapidly after exposure has ended. All complaints, except for headaches, were more frequently reported by "fast movers" than by "slow movers," and depended on field strength and duration of exposure. Mercury-levels in urine were not affected.
de Vocht
Frank
F
Environmental and Occupational Health Division, Institute for Risk Assessment Sciences, Utrecht University, Utrecht, The Netherlands.
van Drooge
Hinkelien
H
Engels
Hans
H
Kromhout
Hans
H
D003072:Cognition Disorders / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000209:etiology*; D015331:Cohort Studies; D004574:Electromagnetic Fields / Q000009:adverse effects*; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D015994:Incidence; D008279:Magnetic Resonance Imaging / Q000009:adverse effects*; D008420:Manufactured Materials / Q000009:adverse effects*; D008628:Mercury / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000652:urine; D009784:Occupational Diseases / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000209:etiology*; D016273:Occupational Exposure / Q000009:adverse effects; D016272:Occupational Health; D011336:Probability; D018570:Risk Assessment; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires
D008628:Mercury