Exposure to a 1.5‐T static magnetic field does not alter body and skin temperatures in man

Abstract

The literature has conflicting reports concerning the effect of static magnetic fields on body and skin temperatures in mammals. Since temperature changes induced by static magnetic fields would have important safety implications for clinical magnetic resonance imaging, body (sublingual pocket) and skin (abdomen, forehead, chest, upper arm, forearm, thigh, and calf) temperatures were determined in six normal subjects using a fluoroptic thermometry system during a 20‐min exposure to a 1.5‐T static magnetic field. Ambient conditions were controlled and held constant. An analysis of variance for re‐ peated measures revealed that there were no statistically significant changes in body or any of the skin temperatures recorded. We conclude that exposure for 20 min to a 1.5‐T static magnetic field does not alter body and skin temperatures in man.