Chronic Exposure to Static Magnetic Fields from Magnetic Resonance Imaging Devices Deserves Screening for Osteoporosis and Vitamin D Levels: A Rat Model

International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health

Harun R. Gungor²  Semih Akkaya²  Nusret Ok²  Aygun Yorukoglu¹  Cagdas Yorukoglu²  Esat Kiter²  Emin O. Oguz³  Nazan Keskin³  Gulcin A. Mete³ 

[1] Pathology Department, Servergazi State Hospital, Denizli 20100, Turkey; E-Mail:;Orthopedics and Traumatology Department, Pamukkale University Medical Faculty, Denizli 20070, Turkey; E-Mails:;Histology and Embriology Department, Pamukkale University Medical Faculty, Denizli 20070, Turkey; E-Mails:

关键词: Static magnetic field;    magnetic resonance imaging;    chronic exposure;    vitamin D;    osteoporosis;    bone;   

DOI  :  10.3390/ijerph120808919

来源: mdpi

【 摘 要 】

Technicians often receive chronic magnetic exposures from magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) devices, mainly due to static magnetic fields (SMFs). Here, we ascertain the biological effects of chronic exposure to SMFs from MRI devices on the bone quality using rats exposed to SMFs in MRI examining rooms. Eighteen Wistar albino male rats were randomly assigned to SMF exposure (A), sham (B), and control (C) groups. Group A rats were positioned within 50 centimeters of the bore of the magnet of 1.5 T MRI machine during the nighttime for 8 weeks. We collected blood samples for biochemical analysis, and bone tissue samples for electron microscopic and histological analysis. The mean vitamin D level in Group A was lower than in the other groups (p = 0.002). The mean cortical thickness, the mean trabecular wall thickness, and number of trabeculae per 1 mm² were significantly lower in Group A (p = 0.003). TUNEL assay revealed that apoptosis of osteocytes were significantly greater in Group A than the other groups (p = 0.005). The effect of SMFs in chronic exposure is related to movement within the magnetic field that induces low-frequency fields within the tissues. These fields can exceed the exposure limits necessary to deteriorate bone microstructure and vitamin D metabolism.

【 授权许可】

CC BY   
© 2015 by the authors; licensee MDPI, Basel, Switzerland.