MP3 Earphones Pose Risk To Pacemakers, May Harm Health

Magnets in Earphones could pose a health risk to patients who have a heart condition and are fitted with a pacemaker and a defibrillator device as they could induce a magnetic field which could potentially be fatal.

A report showed during the American Heart Association conference says that MP3 earphones and headphones could interfere with the smooth operating of the life saving devices.

The research carried out by a team from the Medical Device Safety Institute at Beth Israel Medical Center in Boston, USA and was headed by Dr. William Maisel.

A scientific study of the interaction of eight different models of headphones and earphones with 60 patients fitted with defibrillators and pacemakers found out that a significant proportion of them suffered from some interference.

Placing a magnet against a defibrillator - even with a 30mm gap - effectively deactivated the device even for a short time.

Earlier this year, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) came to the conclusion that portable media players by themselves are harmless (ed: a bit like a hammer) and are safe to use.

The research could possibly end with Headphones and Earphones carrying health warning, just like for Alcohol and Cigarettes.