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The Hazards of VDTs

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Bob DeMatteo · 1981

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This 1981 report provided early recognition of EMF hazards from computer displays decades before widespread digital technology adoption.

Plain English Summary

Summary written for general audiences

This 1981 technical report by Bob DeMatteo examined occupational hazards from video display terminals (VDTs), the computer screens widely used in offices during the early personal computer era. The study investigated potential health risks from electromagnetic field emissions and other hazards associated with prolonged VDT use in workplace settings. This research represents early recognition of EMF exposure concerns from computer equipment that would become ubiquitous in modern workplaces.

Why This Matters

This 1981 report stands as a prescient early warning about EMF exposure from computer displays, published just as VDTs were becoming standard office equipment. DeMatteo's work addressed concerns that would later prove well-founded - video display terminals did emit significant electromagnetic fields, particularly extremely low frequency (ELF) radiation from their cathode ray tube displays. What makes this research particularly relevant today is how it anticipated the occupational health challenges we now face with ubiquitous computer use. While modern LCD screens emit different types of EMF than the CRT displays of 1981, the fundamental questions about prolonged exposure to electromagnetic fields from workplace technology remain unchanged. The reality is that this early occupational health perspective on EMF exposure from computers laid important groundwork for understanding risks that have only intensified as our technology dependence has grown exponentially.

Exposure Information

Specific exposure levels were not quantified in this study.

Cite This Study
Bob DeMatteo (1981). The Hazards of VDTs.
Show BibTeX
@article{the_hazards_of_vdts_g5809,
  author = {Bob DeMatteo},
  title = {The Hazards of VDTs},
  year = {1981},
  
  
}

Quick Questions About This Study

Video Display Terminals (VDTs) were computer screens with cathode ray tubes used in early office computers. They emitted electromagnetic fields and other potential hazards, prompting occupational health investigations as they became standard workplace equipment in the early 1980s.
VDTs with cathode ray tube displays emitted multiple types of electromagnetic radiation, including extremely low frequency (ELF) fields, very low frequency (VLF) radiation, and X-rays. These emissions were significantly higher than modern LCD computer screens produce today.
The Ontario Public Service Employees Union (OPSEU) commissioned this study because VDTs were rapidly being introduced into government workplaces, and workers were reporting health concerns including eye strain, headaches, and other symptoms potentially linked to electromagnetic field exposure.
This early research established the precedent for investigating EMF exposure from workplace computer equipment. While modern LCD screens emit different radiation than 1980s CRT displays, the fundamental questions about prolonged electromagnetic field exposure from computers remain relevant today.
DeMatteo's report was among the first comprehensive examinations of electromagnetic field hazards from computer equipment, published just as VDTs were becoming widespread in offices. It provided early recognition of EMF exposure risks that would affect millions of workers.