European Stars and Stripes (Newspaper) - April 10, 1990, Darmstadt, Hesse                                By Ronald e. Roel new Day n the last decade dozens of scientific studies have investigated whether radiation emissions from computer terminals present health hazards to workers particularly pregnant women. The findings remain ambiguous a often contradictory a and . Computer manufacturers continue to insist that Low level electromagnetic radiation from terminals is not hazardous to computer users. Still some experts and computer users Are worried a and their worry is translating into a Market. Last month International business machines corp. Quietly introduced a Low level radiation Monitor for its ps-2 personal computers following the company s introduction of similar units for mid Range and mainframe computers last fall. In neither announcement did ism mention the Low radiation technology in the new monitors. Nor is it pointed out in the company s marketing literature. When questioned however company officials acknowledge that these new monitors do contain Low radiation features. The decision to provide Low radiation features in new monitors did not arise from health and safety concerns said Paul Snayd manager of ism s  and ergonomics project office. These Low radiation video display terminals were designed to meet the emission standards established by labor and business organizations in Sweden and Denmark Snayd said. But although the terminal was initially adapted to meet the requirements of european customers ism also had been getting inquiries about Low emission monitors from . Customers Snayd said Quot it was just a matter of time Quot he said before . Computer users would begin asking for similar specifications. So far ism s Low radiation models which Range in Price from $995 to $1,620, have Quot gone Over very Well Quot Snayd said. He would not reveal sales figures. Other computer manufacturers including digital equipment corp. And data general corp., also offer Low radiation monitors to european and . Customers. And one manufacturer a Safe should computer users be concerned about potentially hazardous Elf extremely Low frequency magnetic radiation from their terminals a amps Michael Abrams computer firms radiate caution computing co., a Needham mass based  maker a offers a Flat panel Quot liquid Crystal display Quot that it claims gives off no electro magnetic radiation unlike conventional cathode Ray tube screens. The unit which Sells for $695, also has four Shields that Block radiation emanating from electrical components in the Back of the terminal. Since last year the company has sold 1,800 monitors nationwide. Safe computing president George s. Lechter acknowledges that liquid Crystal screens Are harder to read than ism s Low radiation monitors. But the major drawback of the ism monitors lechter said is that they do not Block out potentially hazardous Elf extremely sow frequency magnetic radiation. For years Elf radiation was thought to be harmless. But evidence is mounting some scientists say that Low frequency electromagnetic Fields can produce changes in individual cells and organs. Quot the nature of these interactions is Subtle and Complex Quot wrote three Carnegie Mellon University researchers in a recent report to the congressional office of technology assessment. Quot the implications of these interactions for Public health remain unclear but there Are legitimate reasons for  manufacturers of radiation Shields for dts admit that their products do not Block Elf radiation that comes from the front of the unit either. Quot we offer the Best Protection available for people who already have monitors Quot said Michael Hiles president of Norad corp., based in Santa Monica Calif. Norad s Shields which Cost Between $120 and $140, Block out virtually All electrical radiation and about half of a terminal s higher frequency magnetic radiation Hiles said the company is also developing a magnetic shield that would be placed Between the computer user and a  he said. Concern Over  related radiation is still not widespread among the 40 million office workers in the United states. Quot our sense is that Low level radiation is not As much an Issue As ergonomic workplace design Quot said Christopher o Leary manager of the occupational health and safety unit of Arthur d. Little a Cambridge mass based consulting firm. Quot the problem we have is that the alleged effects Are also Normal diseases of life Quot o Leary said. Quot the question people Are asking is whether they occur More frequently because of radiation  nevertheless As a precautionary measure dozens of employers in the United states have begun to offer pregnant workers dts with radiation Shields or Zero radiation terminals such As those produced by Safe computing. Quot we be read a number of studies which Are inconclusive but there Are some fears there Quot said Maureen Neal an administrator for new York state s division of alcoholism and alcohol abuse the division recently purchased five video display terminals that Emit no radiation produced by Safe computing. Quot women who Are pregnant do want to use them Quot Neal said. Quot we feel if there Are some safeguards we should make them  at least one lawsuit has resulted from a claim linking dts to serious illness. In 1980, two Chicago women working at computer terminals developed cervical cancer. Within a year one died. The other underwent several operations and sued Raythelon co., the Lexington   manufacturer which no longer makes such displays. The company would not comment on the suit which is still pending. More recently there has been employee alarm at Usa today Headquarters in Arlington va., where at least 14 women working at computer terminals had miscarriages during a 15-month period Between 1987 and 1988. Although no immediate link Between  use and the miscarriages could be established the company called in the National Institute of occupational safety and health to study the problem. Tuesday april 10, 1990 the stars and stripes a a a Page 13