title: Exposure to static magnetic fields and risk of accidents among a cohort of workers from a medical imaging device manufacturing facility.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To study the association between occupational MRI-related static magnetic fields (SMF) exposure and the occurrence of accidents.
  
  
  METHODS
  Recent and career SMF exposure was assessed by linking a retrospective job exposure matrix to payroll based job histories, for a cohort of (former) workers of an imaging device manufacturing facility in the Netherlands. Occurrence of accidents was collected through an online questionnaire. Self-reported injuries due to accidents in the past 12 months, and the first (near) traffic accident while commuting to work and from work were analyzed with logistic regression and discrete-time survival analyses, respectively.
  
  
  RESULTS
  High recent SMF exposure was associated with an increased risk of accidents leading to injuries [odds ratio (OR) 4.16]. For high recent and career SMF exposure, an increased risk was observed for accidents resulting in physician-treated injuries (OR 5.78 and 2.79, respectively) and an increased lifetime risk of (near) accidents during commute to work (hazard ratios 2.49 and 2.45, respectively), but not from work.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  We found an association between MRI-related occupational SMF exposure and an increased risk of accidents leading to injury, and for commute-related (near) accidents during the commute from home to work. Further research into health effects of (long-term) SMF exposure is warranted to corroborate our findings.
authors.affiliation: Environmental Epidemiology Division, Institute for Risk Assessment Sciences, Utrecht University, Utrecht, the Netherlands.
authors.forename: Suzan
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Bongers
authors.affiliation: Environmental Epidemiology Division, Institute for Risk Assessment Sciences, Utrecht University, Utrecht, the Netherlands.
authors.forename: Pauline
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Slottje
authors.affiliation: Environmental Epidemiology Division, Institute for Risk Assessment Sciences, Utrecht University, Utrecht, the Netherlands.
authors.forename: Lützen
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Portengen
authors.affiliation: Environmental Epidemiology Division, Institute for Risk Assessment Sciences, Utrecht University, Utrecht, the Netherlands.
authors.forename: Hans
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Kromhout
mesh_terms: D000059:Accidents; D000063:Accidents, Traffic; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D000428:Alcohol Drinking; D015331:Cohort Studies; D003952:Diagnostic Imaging / Q000295:instrumentation* / Q000379:methods; D004574:Electromagnetic Fields / Q000009:adverse effects; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D016015:Logistic Models; D060526:Magnetic Fields / Q000009:adverse effects*; D008279:Magnetic Resonance Imaging / Q000295:instrumentation; D008297:Male; D000072499:Manufacturing and Industrial Facilities; D008875:Middle Aged; D009426:Netherlands; D016273:Occupational Exposure; D060051:Occupational Injuries; D016017:Odds Ratio; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D012306:Risk; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D013997:Time Factors; D055815:Young Adult
keywords: accidents; epidemiology; magnetic resonance imaging; occupational exposure; static magnetic fields