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. 1977 Oct;20:131–140. doi: 10.1289/ehp.7720131

Biomagnetic effects: a consideration in fusion reactor development.

D D Mahlum
PMCID: PMC1637347  PMID: 598345

Abstract

Fusion reactors will utilize powerful magnetic fields for the confinement and heating of plasma and for the diversion of impurities. Large dipole fields generated by the plasma current and the divertor and transformer coils will radiate outward for several hundred meters, resulting in magnetic fields up to 450 gauss in working areas. Since occupational personnel could be exposed to substantial magnetic fields in a fusion power plant, an attempt has been made to assess the possible biological and health consequences of such exposure, using the existing literature. The available data indicate that magnetic fields can interact with biological material to produce effects, although the reported effects are usually small in magnitude and often unconfirmed. The existing data base is judged to be totally inadequate for assessment of potential health and environmental consequences of magnetic fields and for the establishment of appropriate standards. Requisite studies to provide an adequate data base are outlined.

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Selected References

These references are in PubMed. This may not be the complete list of references from this article.

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