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Bacterial mutation in high magnetic fields and radiofrequency radiation

No Effects Found

Mineta M, Katada R, Yamada T, Nagasawa K, Takahashi K, Aburano T, Yoshida I · 1999

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Bacteria showed no genetic mutations when exposed to MRI-strength magnetic fields and radiofrequency radiation for up to one hour.

Plain English Summary

Summary written for general audiences

Japanese researchers exposed bacteria commonly used in genetic testing to extremely strong magnetic fields (6.3 Tesla) combined with radiofrequency radiation similar to what's found in MRI machines for up to one hour. They found no increase in genetic mutations compared to unexposed bacteria, suggesting that MRI-level electromagnetic exposures don't cause DNA damage in this bacterial model.

Study Details

The purpose of this study was to examine the safety of magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) by observing whether bacterial mutation occurs in an approximate MRI environment.

We employed a GX-270 FT-NMR unit (JEOL, Ltd.) with a magnetic field strength of 6.3 Tesla. The Salmo...

The rates of revertant mutation in mixed strains and the TA98 strain were not statistically signific...

Therefore, it was concluded that bacterial mutation is not increased by RF radiation under a 6.3 Tesla magnetic field.

Cite This Study
Mineta M, Katada R, Yamada T, Nagasawa K, Takahashi K, Aburano T, Yoshida I (1999). Bacterial mutation in high magnetic fields and radiofrequency radiation Nippon Igaku Hoshasen Gakkai Zasshi 59(9):467-469, 1999.
Show BibTeX
@article{m_1999_bacterial_mutation_in_high_3248,
  author = {Mineta M and Katada R and Yamada T and Nagasawa K and Takahashi K and Aburano T and Yoshida I},
  title = {Bacterial mutation in high magnetic fields and radiofrequency radiation},
  year = {1999},
  
  url = {https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/10487059/},
}

Quick Questions About This Study

Japanese researchers exposed bacteria commonly used in genetic testing to extremely strong magnetic fields (6.3 Tesla) combined with radiofrequency radiation similar to what's found in MRI machines for up to one hour. They found no increase in genetic mutations compared to unexposed bacteria, suggesting that MRI-level electromagnetic exposures don't cause DNA damage in this bacterial model.