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Environmental health
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Ill effects of computer radiation?
Originally Published: February 21, 1997
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We were wondering what the effects of "computer CRT radiation" would be if you sat behind or to the side of someone's computer. We work in a small office of a large company abroad and people here are very concerned about what long-term effects they might suffer. Conventional wisdom here is that there IS something, so when you walk into our offices, you will see all kinds of poster and papers covering the vents that are supposed to cool the insides of the monitor. Our office mates normally ask each other to turn off their computers when they are not using them, out of fear of this radiation. Is this an old wives' tale, or is there some truth to it? Signed us,
Really paranoid about computers
Dear Really paranoid about computers, It can't be too old of a wives' tale -- computers have only been a common feature of the workplace for the past decade or so. This certainly is not enough time to determine whether any health risks are associated with exposure to the radiation emitted from computers. On the other hand, we have learned about the effects of computer use on our eyes, muscles, and bones. Naturally, we want to know if being around computers 8 to 10 hours a day will jeopardize our future health -- will it cause cancer somewhere down the road? No one can say with certainty if the radiation from computers could or could not harm us. Research on the health effects of electromagnetic radiation from other sources shows that there may be some impact at the cellular level. However, much of this research has failed to produce definitive results that could subsequently be reproduced in other laboratories. One study done a few years ago sought to determine if radiation from computers raised the incidence of miscarriage among employees at a large company. In the end, they didn't find any deviation from the norm in terms of number of spontaneous miscarriages in the general population. The American Physics Association issued a statement within the past year to the effect that no conclusive evidence exists to support the idea that the low levels of radiation emitted by computers poses a health risk. It sounds like you and your co-workers might benefit from trying to rearrange your cramped quarters. Perhaps you can find a way to situate the computers so that the majority of them have their backs to a wall. You might want to consider removing the posters and papers from your computers, too. For one, paper is not going to shield you from electromagnetic radiation waves, which easily and naturally pass through paper. And, you may be creating more of a risk by covering the vents of your computers, which could overheat if not allowed to cool properly. Fortunately, or unfortunately, Alice can't tell you much more about radiation effects from computers. Based on the research done to date, it sounds like you have bigger things to worry about, such as a small fire starting in your small office. You might want to take a look at Computer hazards? in Alice's General Health archives for information on how to minimize other problems associated with computer use, such as eye strain, neck and back pain, and musculoskeletal disorders (e.g., carpal tunnel syndrome).
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