Journal
JOURNAL OF MAGNETIC RESONANCE IMAGING
Volume 26, Issue 5, Pages 1357-1361Publisher
JOHN WILEY & SONS INC
DOI: 10.1002/jmri.21153
Keywords
electrogustatory effect; bioeffects; safety of magnetic fields; metallic taste; high magnetic field
Funding
- MRC [G9900259] Funding Source: UKRI
- Medical Research Council [G9900259] Funding Source: researchfish
- Medical Research Council [G9900259] Funding Source: Medline
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Purpose: To perform an initial characterization of the metallic taste effect observed by some workers when moving around an MRI scanner. Materials and Methods: A total of 21 subjects performed controlled movements in the stray field of a 7-T scanner. Rates of change of magnetic flux were recorded during the study using a custom-built three-axis coil unit connected to a data logger. Results: Relatively normal movements could generate switched fields of 2 T/second. Of the 21 subjects, 12 detected, a metallic taste, but the threshold at which it was perceived varied greatly between subjects, with the minimum dB/dt value at which such a taste was detected being 1.3 T/second. The threshold also depended on the direction of movement. Conclusion: This study indicates that 50% of subjects will perceive a metallic taste for head shaking with a period of 1.5 seconds (magnetic field in an anterior/posterior direction) causing a dB/dt of 2.3 +/- 0.3 T/second. The presence of dental fillings is not a requirement for the sensation of metallic taste.
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