I read it when I first got it, and I don't remember reading anything that
alarmed me.
Some random quotes:
...data still preliminary... negative against any statistically signifigant
elevations of spontaneous abortion rates, infertility, low birth weight, and
premature delivery... (page 216)
...pregnant personnel are advised that ..no known data to suggest ...any..
harm experienced by exposing the fetus to the static magnetic field...due to
lack of data we recommend that pregnant personnel not be exposed to
time-varying RF or gradient megnetic fields of the imaging system (pg 217)
reference: Kanal, Shellock, Savitz, 1991, Survey of reproductive health among
female MR operators; Abstract at 77th meeting Radiological Society of North
America (Chicago, 1-6 December 1991).
Exposure of mice to about 1 T in utero has had no effect on prenatal or
postnatal development. (pg 377) Ref: Sikov et al. 1979 Development of mice
after intrauterine exposure to direct-current magnetic fields. 18th Hanford
Life Sciences symposium, Richland, WA , Oct 1978 Konermann and Monig 1986
Studies ...static magnetic fields on prenatal development of mice Radiologe
26:490-497
...some equivocal data suggesting developing chick embryo is sensitive to
prolonged exposure to weak ELF magnetic fields... results from mammalian
studies are mostly negative... such exposure does not seem to affect
chromosome structure... (pg 381)
pg 384 discusses the well-know effects of high maternal body temperature on
fetal development, and suggests this may be a concern due to RF heating.
I remember, but cannot find, a reference toa study that breed several
generations of mice in a static field with no problems.
Final note: I recently had a baby, and I was more concerned about exposure to
chemicals of known and unknown toxicity from student samples than I was about
exposure to the magnets.
Karen Ann Smith kasmith@iastate.edu
Chemical Instrument Services (515) 294-4057
Iowa State University Ames, IA 50011
(Insert favorite quote here)