Magnetotrama

Magnetotrama (new entry and newly proposed pathology name)

Definition: Tissue damage brought on by exposure to extreme levels of magnetic flux.

Case Example: While working in the field of Broadcast Engineering, I was repairing a video tape bulk eraser designed to erase high coercivity metal-particle video tape (degaussing) that produced a 4,000 oersted magnetic field that alternated in polarity at the AC line frequency rate (60 Hertz). While I had an iron screwdriver in direct contact with the pole piece of the bulk eraser's integral electromagnet, the device was accidentally activated when my hand blocked the path of the infrared-emitting LED intended to detect the presence of a video tape cartridge on the eraser's intake conveyor belt. The screwdriver concentrated the magnetic flux from the electromagnet into a narrow field of approximately 4 mm diameter, and the amount of energy dissipated was presumed to be about 80% of the input energy to the device: 4,400 VA (20 amps at 220 volts). The device remained activated for approximately 1 second (60 AC cycles) producing a total of 3,520 root mean square (RMS) joules (80% of 4,400 VA-seconds) of energy output. The bulk eraser was de-energized manually. Analysis of the device circuitry showed that it had no provisions to de-energize at the zero crossing point in the AC cycle. If the device de-energized at a crest or trough [http://en. .org/wiki/Crest_(physics)] in the AC cycle, that condition would exacerbate the creation of a residual static magnetic field in any nearby magnetic material.

Symptoms: Discomfort was immediate, producing the sensation of a nail being driven through my hand, followed by intense aching that lasted for several days. Following the incident, several episodes over a period of two years caused dull aching in the region of the hand exposed, accompanied by coldness and reduced sensation in the fingers. I presume the symptoms were caused by formation of a thrombus (blood clot). Hemoglobin is known to be weakly diamagnetic, and such an intense exposure of a highly concentrated magnetic field may have produced other as-yet unidentified physiological effects.

Treatment: No treatment or diagnostic protocol was known by my physician. When the aching became intense, I surmised that some ferromagnetic element in my hand had become magnetically polarized. Since the most common ferromagnetic material in the human body, iron, is of low coercivity, I hypothesized that a magnetic field of much lower intensity could demagnetize the affected area. I experimented with using a small hand operated bulk eraser (with an input energy of 200 VA) intended to erase iron particle video tape, and found that by using the eraser in the same fashion that it would be used to properly erase tape (activate at some distance from the target, slowly bring the eraser into contact with the target, slowly withdraw the easer from the target before deactivating it) brought immediate relief from the discomfort. The period between episodes gradually lengthened and after approximately two years never returned. The total number of "treatments" required was about 20.

Observation: Very little is known about the anatomical hazards of high intensity magnetic fields. Hopefully, the example here of an extreme exposure and improvised treatment will be of some benefit. Although the efficacy of magnetic fields for the treatment of injuries and the detrimental affects of high frequency electromagnetic fields (due mostly to tissue heating) have been well documented, little scientific evidence can be found by this author of injury to humans caused directly by exposure to high intensity magnetic fields from extremely low frequency sources.

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