European Stars and Stripes (Newspaper) - January 08, 1990, Darmstadt, Hesse Low radiation computer monitors by Peter h. Lewis new York times he International business machines corp. Has quietly begun Selling computer monitors that contain special shielding intended to reduce the user s exposure to electromagnetic radiation. The Tow radiation monitors Are currently available in the United states Only or mainframe and mid Range computer systems. But ism officials said the technology could be incorporated into personal computer monitors if it becomes Clear that customers demand it. The monitors were designed to meet the Low radiation standards in Sweden where labor and business organizations have agreed on voluntary specifications for acceptable Levels of radiation emitted by computer displays. If demand for Low radiation monitors grows in the United states other computer makers Are Likely to be compelled to offer Low radiation monitors As Well. Computer monitors Emit weak electromagnetic Fields As do copiers laser printers overhead lights television sets and other types of electronic equipment. Many computer user especially those who sit in front of monitors for several hours a Day have been concerned about the effect of those Fields. But studies investigating possible links Between Low level Monitor radiation and a variety of workplace health problems including skin rashes and abnormal pregnancies have been inconclusive or ambiguous. The studies have neither found hard evidence that computer radiation is linked to the reported disorders nor exonerated the electromagnetic Fields As a possible Factor. Ism did not mention Fie Low radiation technology when it introduced the inf windows monitors in the United states in september. And Paul Snayd a manager of vat and special needs products for ism emphasized that the Monitor was developed not because of any health concern but rather As a response to emerging customer Louis Salesin. Editor of vat news a newsletter published in new York thai reports on computer related health and safety issues observed a obviously . And other companies could not trumpet the health aspects of the new Low radiation monitors without raising questions about the millions of sets already out the company has repeatedly stressed hat there is no evidence that Low level radiation from computer monitors is harmful. Ism cited the results of a yearlong study by researchers at the University of Toronto who reported last month that they had found no significant Adverse effects among pregnant mice exposed to Levels of radiation equal to or greatly higher than those to which office computer users would be exposed. The study which contradicts earlier findings by swedish researchers was financed by ism and Ontario Hydro which has a Large number of employees who use computers and has Long been a supporter of ergonomic research. Although it views the technology As superfluous publicly at least ism has sought Patent Protection for the technology which involves a combination of engineering changes and radiation cancelling devices. According to vat news ism applied for a United states Patent in August 1987. The application claimed that tests demonstrated dramatic reductions in the unwanted radiation in front of . A or cathode Ray tubes the part of the Monitor on which data Are displayed. Monitors Are also commonly called dts or video display terminals and the magnetic Field around them is often called vat radiation. At a distance of 55 centimetres from the neck of an unshielded ., the magnetic Field is in the Range of 1 to 2 Micro Tesla vat news reported referring to a unit of measurement of radiation. In the Patent claim ism stated that its shielding system reduces that Field to less than two tenths of 1 Salesin of vat news said that while details of the technology Are unclear it appears to be an inexpensive process that does not degrade the performance. In fact ism says the Resolution of the new monitors is 75 percent better than existing monitors with reduced Glare and distortion. The monitors have a list Price of $995 for monochrome and $1,620 for color which makes them slightly less expensive than the monitors they replace. Other computer makers also say they do not believe that health concerns justify a Tow radiation Monitor although the digital equipment corp. And the data general corp., like ism offer one in Europe. The radiation that is moderated by the ism technology is referred to As Vlf for very Low frequency. However monitors also produce a different kind of radiation at extremely Low frequency or Elf which is commonly associated with Power Linos. While much attention has been paid to Vlf radiation evidence is mounting that Elf May also be a significant concern in health issues. Salesin said laser printers and photocopying machines Emit relatively High Levels of Elf radiation at close distances the increasing popularity of personal copiers and desktop laser printers Means some workers May be in close Contact with those devices As Well As with computer monitors. Again there is no evidence that such radiation is harmful. But researchers at Johns Hopkins University s school of Public Hygiene and health reported recently that preliminary results of a study of More than 50,000 linemen at the new York Telephone co. Are in keeping with a hypothesis of cancer promotion from emf emf stands for electromagnetic Field. The study did not address office equipment. Clearly there is a need for increased study of the health aspects of computers and other office equipment. The conflicting findings of epidemiological studies on video displays and the health of office workers underscore How difficult it is to assess the biological Impact of Low level radiation. It appears however to be a relatively simple process to measure the amount of radiation Given off by monitors and determine an acceptable level. Such standards would at least let office workers and managers make informed decisions about their work environment. But Are customers Likely to ask for Low radiation models radiation in the workplace does t seem to be As much of an Issue in the United Stales As it is in Scandinavia where unions have a much More powerful role said or. David a. Thompson a professor in the department of Industrial engineering and engineering management at Stanford University. Page 14 stars and stripes monday j
