title: Magnetic field exposure in a nondestructive testing operation.
abstract: Nondestructive testing is any technique used to inspect the integrity of a manufactured item without diminishing its future usefulness. Magnetic particle inspection is one type of nondestructive testing that uses electromagnetism in the inspection procedure, thus potentially exposing the operator to magnetic fields. During magnetic particle inspection, investigators took peak magnetic field measurements of 8 turbine engine shafts at a turbine engine overhaul and repair center. They recorded 95 peak magnetic field measurements, ranging from < 0.1 to 29.27 mT. The exposure values measured were among the highest reported in the occupational setting. Further work is needed to characterize magnetic field exposures in magnetic particle inspection operations--in particular, by differentiating magnetic field magnitude by current frequency--and to understand exposure as it relates to different types of magnetic particle inspection devices.
authors.affiliation: Division of Environmental and Occupational Health Sciences, University of Illinois, Chicago, USA.
authors.forename: Julia F
authors.initials: JF
authors.lastname: Lippert
authors.forename: Steven E
authors.initials: SE
authors.lastname: Lacey
authors.forename: Kathleen J
authors.initials: KJ
authors.lastname: Kennedy
authors.forename: Nurtan A
authors.initials: NA
authors.lastname: Esmen
authors.forename: Jeanine M
authors.initials: JM
authors.lastname: Buchanich
authors.forename: Gary M
authors.initials: GM
authors.lastname: Marsh
mesh_terms: D004574:Electromagnetic Fields; D004784:Environmental Monitoring / Q000379:methods*; D019652:Extraction and Processing Industry; D006801:Humans; D016273:Occupational Exposure / Q000032:analysis*; D011829:Radiation Dosage