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Note: This study found no significant biological effects under its experimental conditions. We include all studies for scientific completeness.

SHORT-TERM EXPOSURE OF RHESUS MONKEYS TO 20,000 GAUSS STEADY MAGNETIC FIELD

No Effects Found

Authors not listed · 1978

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Even 20,000 gauss magnetic fields showed no immediate effects in primates, providing safety perspective for everyday exposures.

Plain English Summary

Summary written for general audiences

This 1978 study exposed rhesus monkeys to extremely powerful 20,000 gauss magnetic fields and monitored their vital signs, brain activity, and blood chemistry. The research found no measurable effects on heart rate, blood pressure, brain responses, or blood cell counts. This represents one of the earliest systematic investigations into high-intensity magnetic field exposure in primates.

Study Details

To determine if short-term exposure of Rhesus monkeys to a 20,000 gauss magnetic field produces observable biological effects.

Two adult Rhesus monkeys were exposed to a steady, relatively uniform magnetic field of 20,000 gauss...

Evoked potentials measured inside and outside the magnet were essentially the same. The latency of f...

From the tests which were performed, as described above, we conclude that there were no observable effects in the two monkeys. They are currently healthy and active, apparently unaffected by the 48-hour exposure to the 20,000 gauss magnetic field.

Cite This Study
Unknown (1978). SHORT-TERM EXPOSURE OF RHESUS MONKEYS TO 20,000 GAUSS STEADY MAGNETIC FIELD.
Show BibTeX
@article{short_term_exposure_of_rhesus_monkeys_to_20_000_gauss_steady_magnetic_field_g5442,
  author = {Unknown},
  title = {SHORT-TERM EXPOSURE OF RHESUS MONKEYS TO 20,000 GAUSS STEADY MAGNETIC FIELD},
  year = {1978},
  
  
}
No DOI on file for this study.

Quick Questions About This Study

20,000 gauss is extraordinarily powerful - about 400 times stronger than MRI machines and millions of times more intense than magnetic fields from household appliances, power lines, or any device you encounter in daily life.
Scientists measured heart rate, blood pressure, brain electrical activity (evoked potentials), and blood cell counts including red blood cells, white blood cells, and other hematological parameters to assess biological responses.
Rhesus monkeys share similar physiology with humans, making them valuable for safety research. Their size and biological systems allow researchers to measure effects that might translate to human health concerns.
Not necessarily. This study only looked at short-term exposure and immediate effects. Different biological mechanisms might respond to lower field strengths over longer periods, which this research didn't examine.
This research used extremely low frequency (ELF) magnetic fields, the same type generated by power lines and electrical systems, but at intensities only achievable with specialized laboratory equipment.