iPods do not interfere with Pacemakers

A recent media frenzy has attempted to whip up panic about the dangers of portable music players to people with pacemakers. But you don't have to toss out those MP3s and iPods just yet: a study in BioMedical Engineering has shown that such devices are incapable of producing a magnetic field strong enough to interfere with modern pacemakers (read about it in ScienceDaily).

The study shows that the Apple iPod's magnetic field is hundreds of times less than that required to effect pacemakers even when the earbuds hang directly over the chest. Moreover, the voltage produced by this field is so low that it cannot be detected by highly sensitive equipment.

So put your hearts at ease: listening to your favorite tunes will not cause an implanted pacemaker to go on the fritz.