POTENTIAL HEALTH HAZARDS OF VIDEO DISPLAY TERMINALS
William E. Murray, C. Eugene Moss, Wordie H. Parr, Clinton Cox, Michael J. Smith, Barbara F.G. Cohen, Lambert W. Stammerjohn, Alan Happ · 1981
Government health agencies have been studying electromagnetic radiation from workplace electronics since 1981.
Plain English Summary
NIOSH examined potential health risks from video display terminals (early computer monitors) in 1981, focusing on radiation exposure, ergonomic factors, and occupational safety concerns. This pioneering government assessment addressed growing workplace health questions as computers became common office equipment. The study established early frameworks for understanding electromagnetic radiation exposure from workplace electronics.
Why This Matters
This 1981 NIOSH report represents a pivotal moment in recognizing that everyday electronic devices could pose health risks. Video display terminals were the smartphones of their era - ubiquitous workplace technology that people spent hours using daily. The government's decision to investigate potential health hazards demonstrates that concerns about electromagnetic radiation from common devices aren't new or fringe thinking.
What makes this particularly relevant today is the pattern it established. Just as NIOSH recognized the need to study VDTs when they became widespread, we're now seeing similar investigations into cell phones, WiFi, and 5G. The difference is that modern devices operate at much higher frequencies and power levels than those 1980s computer monitors, yet we're often told there's nothing to worry about.
Finding
The radiation surveys demonstrated that exposure to x-ray, radio-frequency, ultraviolet, and visible radiation was well below current occupational exposure standards, and, in many cases, below the detection capability of the survey instruments. The air samples showed that there were no hazardous chemical exposures. Specifically, workplace ambient levels of carbon monoxide, formaldehyde, hydrocarbons, acetic acid and ozone were all well below current occupational exposure limits.
In their words
“The radiation surveys demonstrated that exposure to x-ray, radio-frequency, ultraviolet, and visible radiation was well below current occupational exposure standards, and, in many cases, below the detection capability of the survey instruments. The air samples showed that there were no hazardous chemical exposures. Specifically, workplace ambient levels of carbon monoxide, formaldehyde, hydrocarbons, acetic acid and ozone were all well below current occupational exposure limits.”
Exposure Information
Specific exposure levels were not quantified in this study.
Study Details
To evaluate potential health hazards from the use of video display terminals (VDTs) in information processing applications
A preliminary walk-through survey was conducted in November 1979. An in-depth investigation in Janua...
The radiation surveys demonstrated that exposure to x-ray, radio-frequency, ultraviolet, and visible...
Based upon the findings from this survey, general recommendations concerning work/rest regimens, testing of operators' visual functions, and ergonomic factors are provided in this report.
Show BibTeX
@article{potential_health_hazards_of_video_display_terminals_g6000,
author = {William E. Murray and C. Eugene Moss and Wordie H. Parr and Clinton Cox and Michael J. Smith and Barbara F.G. Cohen and Lambert W. Stammerjohn and Alan Happ},
title = {POTENTIAL HEALTH HAZARDS OF VIDEO DISPLAY TERMINALS},
year = {1981},
}