title: Magnetic Field Interactions of Military and Law Enforcement Bullets at 1.5 and 3 Tesla.
abstract: There are significant numbers of military and law enforcement bullets containing ferromagnetic materials. This study aimed to assess the magnetic field interactions for a representative sample of military and law enforcement ballistic objects at 1.5 and 3 tesla (T) to create a magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) compatibility database.
  
  
  
  Twenty-nine different bullets underwent MRI evaluation. The deflection angle method and a qualitative torque scale were used. The samples were representative of those commonly used in the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) military forces (e.g., 5.56 mm NATO), law enforcement agencies (e.g., 9 mm Parabellum), and encountered in war injuries and crime-related trauma (e.g., 7.62 mm Kalashnikov).
  
  
  
  At all static magnetic field strengths, all non-nickel- and nonsteel-containing bullets exhibited no movement (deflection angle = 0°; torque = 0), whereas eight bullets containing steel core, steel jacket, or nickel jacket exhibited substantial magnetic field interactions over and above what might be regarded as safe in vivo (deflection angle = 90°; torque = 4+).
  
  
  
  Military and law enforcement non-nickel- or nonsteel-containing bullets appear to be safe for patients in MRI system at 1.5 and 3 T. On the other hand, nickel- and steel-containing bullets exhibit movements that are considered potentially unsafe for patients in an MRI environment.
authors.affiliation: Forensic Imaging Unit, University Hospital of Brest, Boulevard Tanguy Prigent, 29609 Brest Cedex, France.
authors.forename: Idris
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Diallo
authors.affiliation: Brittany Atlantic Hospital of Vannes, 20 Boulevard du Général Maurice, Guillaudot, 56017 Vannes, France.
authors.forename: Mathieu
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Auffret
authors.affiliation: French National Forensic Science Institute, 8 Avenue, Rockefeller, 69008 Lyon, France.
authors.forename: Lakdar
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Attar
authors.affiliation: Military Academy of Châteaulin, Caserne la tour d'Auvergne, Ty-Vougeret, 29150 Dineault, France.
authors.forename: Elise
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Bouvard
authors.affiliation: Teaching Military Hospital Clermont-Tonerre, Rue colonel Fonferrier, 29200 Brest, France.
authors.forename: Jean
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Rousset
authors.affiliation: Forensic Imaging Unit, University Hospital of Brest, Boulevard Tanguy Prigent, 29609 Brest Cedex, France.
authors.forename: Douraied
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Ben Salem
mesh_terms: D003300:Copper / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000032:analysis; D006801:Humans; D007854:Lead / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000032:analysis; D060526:Magnetic Fields / Q000009:adverse effects*; D008279:Magnetic Resonance Imaging / Q000009:adverse effects*; D000074266:Materials Science / Q000379:methods; D008889:Military Personnel / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D009532:Nickel / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000032:analysis; D016495:Police / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D013232:Steel / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000032:analysis; D015032:Zinc / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000032:analysis
chemical_list: D013232:Steel; D007854:Lead; D003300:Copper; D009532:Nickel; D015032:Zinc