Magnetic Flux Density from Decorative Magnets on Refrigerators and Health Risk

Abstract

       News on social networks stated that decorative magnets on refrigerator doors could absorb radioactive materials that could further contaminate food stored in the refrigerators. People, therefore, have queries on an amount of magnetic flux density releases from the decorative magnets and whether the magnets can absorb radioactive sources. This study was to investigate strength of magnetic flux density and a radiation dose rate of the refrigerator door, inside and outside areas, that might possibly release from 5 different sizes and kinds of the decorative magnets. The results showed that the magnetic flux density within the refrigerator was decreased about 600 times as compared with that of the outside door. An average of the magnetic flux density inside the refrigerator door at an opposite side of the attached magnet position was 0.109 millitesla (mT), that was about two times of an average background (0.052 mT). The magnetic intensity around an inner edge of the refrigerator door was at an average of 42.97 mT, approximately 400 times higher than that from the decorative magnets. The radiation dose rate inside and around the refrigerator was about 0.05 to 0.13 μSv/hr, equal to the background radiation on the earth. Our study demonstrated that the decorative magnets cannot absorb any radioactive materials, resulting in no effects on food storage in the refrigerators. It suggested that magnetic fields from the decorative magnets could not affect health of individuals.