title: A novel tool for estimation of magnetic resonance occupational exposure to spatially varying magnetic fields.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Staff operating in the environment of magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) scanners are exposed daily to static magnetic fields (MFs). To protect workers several guidelines are present in literature reporting exposure limits values expressed in terms of magnetic flux density or induced current density. We present here a novel tool for estimating the induced current density due to worker movement in the MR environment.
  
  
  METHODS
  A Matlab script was created to estimate the induced current density J due to operator movements along a chosen walking path.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The induced current density associated with any worker's movements during MR procedures is dependent on the walking speed and on the spatial gradient fields associated with a specific path. Some examples of possible worker paths were considered here for a 3 T MR scanner and a maximum value of 160 cm/s walking speed.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  This tool permits one to find exposure level for specific worker walking path and speed; it can be used as assessment tool in any MRI centre and for workers safety education. It is valid for any kind of commercial scanner because it requires only the knowledge of the MR scanner room map with isogauss lines.
authors: Institute of Clinical Physiology, National Council of Research, via G. Moruzzi 1, 56124, Pisa, Italy. valeh@ifc.cnr.it
authors: Valentina
authors: V
authors: Hartwig
authors: Nicola
authors: N
authors: Vanello
authors: Giulio
authors: G
authors: Giovannetti
authors: Massimo
authors: M
authors: Lombardi
authors: Luigi
authors: L
authors: Landini
authors: Maria Filomena
authors: MF
authors: Santarelli
mesh_terms: D004553:Electric Conductivity; D004574:Electromagnetic Fields; D004869:Equipment Safety; D006801:Humans; D060526:Magnetic Fields; D008279:Magnetic Resonance Imaging / Q000379:methods*; D009068:Movement; D016273:Occupational Exposure / Q000032:analysis* / Q000517:prevention & control; D011834:Radiation Monitoring / Q000379:methods*; D011835:Radiation Protection / Q000379:methods