According to a new study, iPod can cause malfunctions to peacemakers because Apple’s players may interfere with electromagnetic equipment monitoring the heart. At least this was the conclusion of study presented by a a 17-year-old high school student.

During the study Jay Thaker, a Okemos High School in Okemos, Michigan, has evaluated the effects of iPods on 100 patients, whose mean age was 77, outfitted with pacemakers.

He detected electromagnetic interferences half of the time when the iPod was held just 2 inches from the patient's chest for 5 to 10 seconds.

"People commonly strap their iPod to the arm right next to their pacemaker or put it in a shirt pocket. There are quite a few situations where they come in proximity to the pacemaker - closer than we would like them to," said Thaker, whose father is an electrophysiologist and whose mother is a doctor, and who hopes to attend medical school.

Thaker conducted his study together with Dr. Kirt Jongnarangsin,  an assistant professor in the Division of Cardiovascular Medicine at the University of Michigan. Thaker’s results were presented at the Heart Rhythm Society annual meeting in Denver.