Effects of the static magnetic field on stem cells in the vicinity of a 1 Tesla MRI system

The aim of this preliminary study is to establish a correlation between behavioral aspects of pluripotent stem cells and minimal exposure conditions to static magnetic field generated from a 1 Tesla MRI system of the medical operating staff (occupational exposure). To achieve this goal, cell cultures were placed in spatial positions of interest in the vicinity of the magnet according to the spatial positions of operating staff during the routine scanning activity. Static magnetic field strength and temperature were measured at these positions. The morphological changes, viability and proliferation of the stem cell cultures were investigated following exposure to the magnetic field in the study points. The study shows that there were some changes in these parameters, mainly the proliferation being greater in the static magnetic field around the magnet.