To better understand whether magnets are dangerous to humans, we can break it down into two questions. Is magnetism dangerous and is the magnet itself dangerous?
Is magnetism harmful?
The short answer is no, magnetism is not dangerous. Like it or not, we are all exposed to magnetism all the time. The earth has a magnetic field, electric motors create magnetic fields, as do many electrical devices. Many metals also have weak magnetic fields and if you've ever been in an MRI scanner at the hospital, you've been exposed to very strong magnetism. None of it is harmful. The same goes for the magnetism from magnets. Although neodymium magnets, for example, are very powerful, they have no negative effect on the body.
One major precaution to take is when using pacemakers or similar electrical devices. They must not come close to magnets as this can affect their functionality. Therefore, keep magnets away from pacemakers. If this is not possible, the doctor should be consulted on what precautions to take.
Are magnets dangerous?
Are magnets safe for children?
Magnets and small children can be an unfortunate combination. Magnetism is not dangerous for children, but two powerful magnets can cause sore fingers or serious injury if the magnets are very strong. Most dangerous, however, is if a child accidentally swallows two or more magnets. Inside the body, the two magnets can be attracted to each other, even though they are in two different locations in the intestines. This can cause very serious injuries and there are examples of children who have been very badly injured. If you suspect a child has swallowed magnets, contact the emergency room immediately. This is also the reason why we do not sell small magnets as toys. Many places sell very small magnetic balls under names such as magnetic balls, magballs, Zen magnets, etc. The balls are often bought by children or for children despite the risk of injury. We do not sell such products. If we find out that a customer is buying powerful magnets for a child, we may refuse to complete the transaction. There are many great toys for children other than small magnetic balls.
Are magnets harmful to objects?
As written earlier, magnetic fields are everywhere and cannot be avoided. That said, there are some cases where a strong magnetic field, like the one created by neodymium magnets, can cause harm.
- Cards with magnetic stripes: Avoid cards with magnetic stripes, such as payment cards, coming into contact with a magnet. The magnet will destroy the information on the magnetic stripe and render the card useless.
- Avoid magnets coming into contact with analog hard drives and SSD hard drives. As with magnetic stripes, a strong magnet will destroy the data stored on a hard disk.
- Pacemakers and magnets are a bad combination. In the worst case, a magnet can disable the pacemaker.
How do I avoid getting injured with magnets?
To avoid getting hurt with magnets, the best precaution is common sense. That is, if you don't have experience with powerful magnets, handle them with caution and care. In case that's not enough, there are a few precautions you can take:
- Do not put two magnets close to each other. They will attract each other and collide with great force. The magnets will be destroyed and you can get your fingers trapped.
- Avoid having a magnet in each hand. If you need to move several magnets, move them one at a time. If you have a magnet in each hand, you risk pinching your fingers if the magnets get close to each other.
- Don't let children play with magnets unless they are magnets specifically for children.
- Keep magnets in a safe place where they cannot be found by people who do not know how dangerous powerful magnets can be.
- If a magnet breaks, it should be thrown away. A broken magnet has very sharp edges and can easily cut a finger or hand.