Note: This study found no significant biological effects under its experimental conditions. We include all studies for scientific completeness.
Double- strand breaks in lymphocyte DNA of humans exposed to [ 18 F]fluorodeoxyglucose and the static magnetic field in PET/MRI
No Effects Found
Brix G, Günther E, Rössler U, Endesfelder D, Kamp A, Beer A, Eiber M · 2020
3-Tesla static magnetic fields in PET/MRI scans don't cause DNA damage or worsen radioactive tracer effects.
Plain English Summary
Summary written for general audiences
Researchers tested whether the 3-Tesla static magnetic field used in PET/MRI scans might increase DNA damage when combined with radioactive glucose injection. They found the radioactive tracer caused a 28% increase in DNA breaks in immune cells, but the magnetic field alone caused no damage and didn't worsen the radioactive effects.
Cite This Study
Brix G, Günther E, Rössler U, Endesfelder D, Kamp A, Beer A, Eiber M (2020). Double- strand breaks in lymphocyte DNA of humans exposed to [ 18 F]fluorodeoxyglucose and the static magnetic field in PET/MRI.
Show BibTeX
@article{double_strand_breaks_in_lymphocyte_dna_of_humans_exposed_to_18_ffluorodeoxyglucose_and_the_static_magnetic_field_in_petmri_ce3972,
author = {Brix G and Günther E and Rössler U and Endesfelder D and Kamp A and Beer A and Eiber M},
title = {Double- strand breaks in lymphocyte DNA of humans exposed to [ 18 F]fluorodeoxyglucose and the static magnetic field in PET/MRI},
year = {2020},
doi = {10.1186/s13550-020-00625-1},
}Quick Questions About This Study
No, researchers found no significant DNA damage in lymphocytes exposed to 3-Tesla static magnetic fields for 60 minutes. The magnetic field alone showed no genotoxic effects in this controlled study of healthy volunteers.
No evidence of synergistic effects was found. The 3-Tesla magnetic field didn't increase or decrease DNA damage caused by the radioactive FDG tracer, suggesting no harmful interaction between these exposures.
The radioactive FDG tracer caused a 28% increase in lymphocytes with DNA breaks compared to background levels. Absorbed doses ranged from 1.5 to 3.3 mGy over the 60-120 minute exposure period.
This study suggests the magnetic field component poses no additional DNA damage risk. While the radioactive tracer causes expected low-level damage, the powerful 3-Tesla magnetic field doesn't amplify these effects.
A 3-Tesla field is approximately 60,000 times stronger than Earth's magnetic field and vastly more powerful than any static magnetic fields encountered in daily life from household devices or electronics.