Static Magnetic Fields on Human Bodies

Abstract

AbstractWith the development of modern technologies, people have increased exposure to various types of electromagnetic fields, including static magnetic field (SMF). Accordingly, World Health Organization and international commission on non-ionizing radiation protection have also publish guidelines for the safety application of magnetic fields on human bodies. This chapter summarizes the study results of SMF effect on human bodies, as well as some magnetic field applications in medicine (magnetomedicine). It not only includes some commonly seen SMFs, such as the weak Earth magnetic field that we are all exposed to, but also moderate to ultra-high field generated by magnetic resonance imaging scanners in the hospitals. Magnetic surgery, magnetoencephalography, and magnetocardiogram, which have been used in clinics, are also briefly introduced. SMF-based magnetic therapies are also discussed, which have a long-debated history and still lack of systematic mechanics investigations and sufficient double-blinded, randomized and placebo-controlled human studies. Based on the research progresses in the last few decades, we predict that magnetomedicine will have a great potential in the near future.KeywordsMagnetic field (MF)Static magnetic field (SMF)Earth magnetic fieldGeomagnetic field (GMF)Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI)Magnetic therapy