Background: Neonatal Intensive Care Units are potential areas of exposure to high levels of 50 Hz magnetic fields.
Subjects: Premature infants in an intensive care unit as well as equipment for monitoring and treatment of newborn infants were studied.
Interventions: The megnetic flux density inside the incubator was mapped by an EMDEX II Magnetic field meter during ongoing treatment.
Results: The magnetic fields varied from 0,2-1,0 uT, with maximum values around 1,5 uT. The position of the infant in the incubator, as well as the distance between the equipment and the infant influenced the result.
Conclusions: Exposure of premature infants to 50 Hz magnetic fields are 100 times higher than the levels in domestic houses. Simple measures can reduce these levels considerably.
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Aasen, S., Johnsson, A., Bratlid, D. et al. 50 Hz MAGNETIC FIELD EXPOSURE OF PREMATURE INFANTS IN A NEONATAL INTENSIVE CARE UNIT 1. Pediatr Res 40, 515 (1996). https://doi.org/10.1203/00006450-199609000-00024
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1203/00006450-199609000-00024
