Biomagnetic Fields
NATO Advanced Study Institute:
David Cohen p. 327. (1983) describes Biomagnetism as the study of magnetic fields
that originate in the biological system. In 1967 research was conducted into
measuring human biomagnetism and external sources were interfering with measurements
so investigators developed magnetically shielded rooms. The original room consisted
of two layers of ferromagnetic shielding and one layer of aluminum. Today, magnetic
and eddy currents are set up in the walls to cancel out any outside fields.
Zimmerman developed a magnetic field sensor In 1970. The Super conducting Quantum
Interference Device goes by the acronym SQUID. It can only operate below a specific
temperature and thus requires a cryogenic bath of liquid helium. This device
is able to detect human fields as follows: Body Part Picola Tesla/ cm
scalp 10-30
fasting abdomen 0-50
after eating 50
cold drink 100-200
torso 3
breast 0
arm 5-15
leg 30
flaccid arm
post polio 0
fetus
17th week 10
Steady magnetic fields of the human body are produced in two ways: currents
in the body and by magnetic material like that of magnetite in the lungs of
asbestos miners which is about 10-9 T. Also, welders can have abnormally high
amounts of iron in their lungs.
Normal electrophysiological processes produce measurable magnetic fields that
can then be compared to injured sites. Hence, this information can be used for
diagnosis. Anticancer Research, 18 (5B): 1998 Sept-Oct highlights a study into
biomagnetic activity in ovarian lesions. The SQUID is used to diagnosis benign
versus malignant ovarian diseases.
Furthermore, Chigong Masters project biomagnetism that can also be measured
by simple deflection of a compass.