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VDT's Pass Medical Tests

No Effects Found

Bill Rados

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Early VDT safety testing focused on preventing immediate heating damage, not the biological effects modern research reveals.

Plain English Summary

Summary written for general audiences

This study examined video display terminals (VDTs) for various types of radiation emissions including X-rays, radiofrequency, microwave, and ultrasound. The research found that VDTs passed medical safety tests, indicating radiation levels were within acceptable limits. This work contributed to early workplace safety standards for computer monitors.

Study Details

To test video display terminals (VDTs) for potential health hazards including radiation leakage and to determine if VDTs emit harmful levels of radiation under normal operating conditions.

FDA testing was conducted at the Winchester Engineering and Analytical Center in Winchester, Mass. O...

Radiofrequency and microwave emissions were detected from some electronic components and circuits in...

The results of FDA's radiation testing generally agreed with those of earlier studies done by NIOSH and other organizations. The consensus of the studies is that VDTs emit little or no harmful radiation under normal operating conditions; the emissions that are detectable are well below any existing national and international standards. Compared to some other common sources of radiation, VDTs present a much lower risk. X-ray leakage from VDTs can be controlled by proper circuit design and the use of shielding in or around the cathode ray tube.

Cite This Study
Bill Rados (n.d.). VDT's Pass Medical Tests.
Show BibTeX
@article{vdt_s_pass_medical_tests_g4215,
  author = {Bill Rados},
  title = {VDT's Pass Medical Tests},
  year = {n.d.},
  
  
}
No DOI on file for this study.

Quick Questions About This Study

Video display terminals were tested for X-ray, radiofrequency, microwave, and ultrasound emissions. These represented the primary electromagnetic radiation concerns for computer monitors in workplace environments during the early computer era.
Modern devices often emit similar or higher EMF levels than early VDTs that passed safety tests. Today's smartphones, tablets, and wireless devices typically produce more complex electromagnetic signatures than these early computer terminals.
Passing medical tests meant VDT radiation levels fell within established safety limits designed to prevent immediate thermal damage. However, these standards didn't account for potential long-term biological effects from chronic low-level exposure.
Early computer monitors used cathode ray tube technology that could potentially generate X-rays through high-voltage electron acceleration. This made X-ray emission testing a critical safety requirement for workplace approval of VDT equipment.
Modern LCD and LED screens don't emit X-rays like old CRT monitors, but they do produce other EMF emissions. Current safety standards evolved from early VDT testing but focus mainly on preventing heating rather than biological effects.