Magnetic fields of the human body
David Cohen · 1975
Human organs naturally produce extremely weak magnetic fields that can be measured for medical diagnosis, highlighting biological electromagnetic sensitivity.
Plain English Summary
This 1975 study documented early developments in measuring extremely weak magnetic fields naturally produced by human organs like the heart, brain, and lungs. Researchers found these biomagnetic measurements could become valuable diagnostic tools for detecting abnormal medical conditions. The work laid groundwork for modern biomagnetic medical imaging techniques.
Why This Matters
This foundational research from 1975 represents a crucial milestone in understanding the human body's natural electromagnetic properties. What makes this particularly relevant to today's EMF health debate is the stark contrast it highlights: while our bodies naturally produce extremely weak magnetic fields measured in femtoteslas (quadrillionths of a tesla), we now routinely expose ourselves to artificial EMF sources millions of times stronger. The diagnostic potential Cohen identified has indeed materialized into technologies like magnetocardiography and magnetoencephalography. However, this early work also underscores how sensitive our biological systems are to magnetic fields. If our organs produce such precisely measurable weak fields for normal function, it raises important questions about how the dramatically stronger artificial EMF exposures from modern technology might interfere with these delicate natural processes.
Figures from the Original Paper
Diagrams extracted from the original research document.
Exposure Information
Specific exposure levels were not quantified in this study.
Show BibTeX
@article{magnetic_fields_of_the_human_body_g5795,
author = {David Cohen},
title = {Magnetic fields of the human body},
year = {1975},
}