Which combination of metals is listed as an MRI safety hazard requiring screening?

Which combination of metals is listed as an MRI safety hazard requiring screening?

• A. Iron, Nickel, Cobalt
• B. Oxygen Tanks
• C. Scissors
• D. Pails

Answer: (A)

The key idea is that MRI safety hinges on avoiding ferromagnetic materials. The strong static magnetic field in an MRI machine pulls on ferromagnetic metals, which can become dangerous projectiles, distort the magnetic field, or cause burns if they heat up. Iron, nickel, and cobalt are classic ferromagnetic metals, so their presence poses a real safety hazard and must be screened out before entering the MRI area. Oxygen tanks, scissors, and pails aren’t inherently ferromagnetic in all cases (materials can vary; tanks are often aluminum, and some tools may be nonferrous). Because they aren’t universally ferromagnetic, they don’t carry the same universal screening requirement as the iron/nickel/cobalt set, which is why the combination of iron, nickel, and cobalt is the correct focus for MRI safety screening.

The key idea is that MRI safety hinges on avoiding ferromagnetic materials. The strong static magnetic field in an MRI machine pulls on ferromagnetic metals, which can become dangerous projectiles, distort the magnetic field, or cause burns if they heat up. Iron, nickel, and cobalt are classic ferromagnetic metals, so their presence poses a real safety hazard and must be screened out before entering the MRI area.

Oxygen tanks, scissors, and pails aren’t inherently ferromagnetic in all cases (materials can vary; tanks are often aluminum, and some tools may be nonferrous). Because they aren’t universally ferromagnetic, they don’t carry the same universal screening requirement as the iron/nickel/cobalt set, which is why the combination of iron, nickel, and cobalt is the correct focus for MRI safety screening.