ASSESSMENT OF WORKERS’ EXPOSURE TO ELECTROMAGNETIC FIELDS GENERATED BY MAGNETIC RESONANCE IMAGING SYSTEMS

G. Betta, D. Capriglione, N. Pasquino

Abstract

The paper presents the results of an experimental activity, focused on the estimation of electromagnetic fields generated by magnetic resonance imaging systems and carried out with the purpose of characterizing the exposure of workers to static, low frequency and radio frequency fields. This is an initial activity of a wider research plan that aims to: i) evaluate the dependence of the field strength on the magnet's technology and on the diagnostic protocol; ii) identify the most suitable procedures that allow a reliable measurements of the emissions generated by these systems; iii) assess the distance from the magnet at which exposure limits may be exceeded thus posing potential threats to workers’ health. For the case studied, the static magnetic field proved to follow the theoretical values only close to the magnet's bore due to the effect of the absorbing boundary conditions of the walls, with a few percent variation due to the operating conditions; the contribution in low frequency band is mainly determined by the 50 Hz magnetic field; and finally the radiofrequency band only has contributions from the diagnostic pulses at the resonance frequency, with exposure levels usually below the action limits.

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IMEKO TC

TC4 - Measurement of Electrical Quantities

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