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Path: utzoo!watmath!wateng!ksbszabo
From: ksbszabo@wateng.UUCP (Kevin Szabo)
Newsgroups: net.med
Subject: Re: VDT's and pregnancy
Message-ID: <2670@wateng.UUCP>
Date: Tue, 16-Jul-85 03:40:12 EDT
Article-I.D.: wateng.2670
Posted: Tue Jul 16 03:40:12 1985
Date-Received: Wed, 17-Jul-85 07:14:12 EDT
References: <3064@decwrl.UUCP>
Reply-To: ksbszabo@wateng.UUCP (Kevin Szabo)
Organization: VLSI Group, U of Waterloo
Lines: 34
Summary: 

In article <3064@decwrl.UUCP> merrill@raja.DEC (Rick - Font Mgr. for Hardcopy Engineering) writes:
>fact: VDT's emit less radiation than TV's.
>fact: no scientific group has issued warnings about VDT's
>fact: several studies have found isolated instances of problems
>	experienced by women, pregnant and not, while using 
>	video display terminals (VDTs) that exceed statistical
>	expectations.

[ from memory, this may have little to do with the facts ]

I don't have my references handy (standard disclaimer) but a study
was done very recently at U of Waterloo.  One of the things tested
was the effect of the very low frequency radiation on the unborn
fetus.  The simulation used  chicken eggs which were incubated
in front of a CRT which was running (sorry, I don't know if there
was a control group, I expect there was).  There was a marked increase
in abnormal chicks and non-births.

In general our socienty treats electromagnetic radiation very carelessly.
The effects of low frequency radiation have been discounted since
the radiation is non-ionizing and hence `harmless'.  Microwave
radiation is also underestimated but has recently been shown to cause
miscarriages in mice (at currently allowed doses).  I personally
feel that our disregard for the effects of EMR is similar to widespread
use of lead in Roman times.  It may eventually poison us and we'll
never even know why.

If anybody asks (via mail please) I will spend some time and dig
up these articles.

			Kevin

-- 
Kevin Szabo' watmath!wateng!ksbszabo (U of W VLSI Group, Waterloo, Ont, Canada)