dB/dt Evaluation in MRI Sites: Is ICNIRP Threshold Limit (for Workers) Exceeded?

Giuseppe Acri, Patrizia Inferrera, Lucia Denaro, Carlo Sansotta, Elisa Ruello, Carmelo Anfuso, Francesca Maria Salmeri, Girolamo Garreffa, Giuseppe Vermiglio and Barbara Testagrossa
Additional contact information
Giuseppe Acri: Department of BIOMORF, University of Messina, Via Consolare Valeria, 98168 Messina, Italy
Patrizia Inferrera: School on Medical Physic, University of Messina, Via Consolare Valeria, 98168 Messina, Italy
Lucia Denaro: Department of BIOMORF, University of Messina, Via Consolare Valeria, 98168 Messina, Italy
Carlo Sansotta: Department of BIOMORF, University of Messina, Via Consolare Valeria, 98168 Messina, Italy
Elisa Ruello: Department of BIOMORF, University of Messina, Via Consolare Valeria, 98168 Messina, Italy
Carmelo Anfuso: IRCCS Centro Neurolesi “Bonino-Pulejo”, Via Palermo, C.da Casazza, 98123 Messina, Italy
Francesca Maria Salmeri: Department of BIOMORF, University of Messina, Via Consolare Valeria, 98168 Messina, Italy
Girolamo Garreffa: IEMEST (PA), Fondazione Potito (CB), FISMECO (RM), Via G. Donati, 00159 Roma, Italy
Giuseppe Vermiglio: Department of P.A.S.S.I., University of Messina, Consolare Valeria, 98168 Messina, Italy
Barbara Testagrossa: Department of BIOMORF, University of Messina, Via Consolare Valeria, 98168 Messina, Italy

IJERPH, 2018, vol. 15, issue 7, 1-13

Abstract: The Directive 2013/35/EU establishes standards for workers exposed to static and time varying magnetic fields. These limits are based on ICNIRP guidelines expressed in terms of the electric field induced in the body. The complexity of this measurement led to theoretical models being developed. In this study, the experimental evaluation included varying magnetic field exposures for two classes of MRI workers. The measurements are conducted on four different MRI Systems including one 0.35 T, two 1.5 T, and one 3.0 T. Pocket magnetic dosimeters were used and it was carried out during routine conditions, emergency conditions, and cold-head maintenance/substitution. The acquired data has been processed and the corresponding dB/dt curves have been computed as the first time derivative of the dataset. The weighted peak approach was also implemented for the compliance assessment with regulatory limits. The dB/dt peak values have been compared with the reference level (RL) proposed by ICNIRP. The results show that the RL always exceeds during measurements on the 3.0 T scanner and sometimes on 1.5 T. In light of the foregoing, the diffusion of ultra-high field MRI scanners involves the introduction of behavioral rules that could be more useful than a numerical action level.

Keywords: static magnetic field; time-varying magnetic field; MRI safety; MRI workers exposure (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: I I1 I3 Q Q5 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2018
References: View complete reference list from CitEc
Citations: View citations in EconPapers (1)

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