Question:
hi all,
I've been using a 17 inch CRT for around 5 years and have noticed lately that it has become quite noisy and very tiring to sit in front of.
I've read about the ELF and VLF radiation emitted by CRT monitors and the risk these pose to health (headaches, skin problems etc).
Apart from the unobservable health effects my CRT could be having I have definately noticed the whining sounds which change pitch when I move from one window to another e.g IE to MS Excel. I have also noticed that a radio I listen to while working at the computer also starts to whine when put anywhere near the computer.
So my question is simply: Are TFT monitors safer than CRT ones in terms of human health??
Are there are lists/tables produced which look at computer monitors from a noise/health point of view??
And are there any measures available to identify how much radiation and noise a monitor emits - just as there are measures for resolution etc.
If I'm going to spend hours a day in front of a computer I want to know that I'm not sitting in front of a radiation gun.
I'm looking to buy a new, less tiring TFT monitor for under £200.
Thanks for any help !
P.S If anyone can specifically recommend a 'low-tiring' TFT monitor then please let me know. Thanks!
Answers:
The national radiological protection board have published a report on visual display units by an advisory group. The conclusion is available It costs a tenner to see all of the PDF version which is a disgraceful charge to make for a public body in such a position.
Screen filters can help reduce emissions and glare. See this site for their capabilities.
J_B.
Answers:
Phew! If I got that right, there's no evidence to say that CRTs are dangerous, but they'd like further studies (especially on kiddies)? Right?
Answers:
Phew! !If I got that right, there's no evidence to say that CRTs are dangerous, but they'd like further studies (especially on kiddies)? !Right? !
By my reading of the summary I'd say the jury is still out - I once read in a newspaper ( so it may not be true!) that any electrical equipment has a magnetic field associated with it and that any magnetic field can affect mood, immune system and other aspects of health.
They tried out some people with various equipment in their room such as computers, TV's, and even radio clocks and they found there were noticable difference in their health after the trial period.
Now as I understand it , TFT's produce no radiation and will therefore not pose these risks as CRT screens do....in my opinion I think far more importance needs to be given to this issue as it affects so many people !!
P.S
same goes for mobiles which I'm quite sure now are bad for your health. The leaflets in mobile phone shops basically say that no one really yet knows whether mobiles are bad for health and so just keep using them in a cautious way - which is neither here nor there. If there really was evidence to prove that mobiles don't damage health then it would have been splashed everywhere around us as it would have been in the interest of mobile companies to say 'hey everyone our products are officially safe!'....but instead they refuse to even speak in public about this issue ......don't like to scaremonger but I hope its not a BSE-like timebomb :-/
Answers:
Going on how many people watch tv at home, use computers at work, I'd guess it could be a big issue - IF its ever proven.
However, as CRTs drop out of the market and everyone moves to TFTs - will we ever know?
Think I need a ciggie now!