Relay-Version: version B 2.10 5/3/83; site utzoo.UUCP Posting-Version: Notesfiles $Revision: 1.7.0.10 $; site uokvax.UUCP Path: utzoo!watmath!clyde!burl!ulysses!mhuxr!mhuxn!ihnp4!inuxc!pur-ee!uiucdcs!okstate.UUCP!uokvax.UUCP!emjej From: emjej@uokvax.UUCP Newsgroups: net.med Subject: Re: VDT radiation & related problems Message-ID: <9200010@uokvax.UUCP> Date: Mon, 10-Feb-86 17:46:00 EST Article-I.D.: uokvax.9200010 Posted: Mon Feb 10 17:46:00 1986 Date-Received: Wed, 12-Feb-86 08:24:40 EST References: <88700002@haddock> Lines: 29 Nf-ID: #R:haddock:88700002:uokvax.UUCP:9200010:000:1594 Nf-From: uokvax.UUCP!emjej Feb 10 16:46:00 1986 /* Written 2:30 pm Feb 6, 1986 by marc@haddock in net.med */ > ELF, by the way stands for Extremely Low-Frequency waves which are caused in > the case of VDT's by the flyback transformer used to regulate the high speed > scanning of the electron beem across the screen. There are also some other > waves emitted which are "X-rays, radio-frequency (RF) waves, microwaves and > very low-frequency (VLF) waves". The article groups these waves into 2 > categories, "ionizing" and "non-ionizing". When you (or the article) say "waves," is that sound, or electromagnetic? One thing that bothers the out of me is the sound generated by those flyback transformers. > Apparently, the non-ionizing waves (VLF and ELF in the range of 0 to 30KHz) > are the most recent area of concern were "In the past 5 years, at least 11 > 'clusters' of reproductive problems in connection with VDT usage have been > reported in the US and Canada. ... The first such cluster came to light when > four out of seven pregnant VDT operators at the Toronto Star newspaper had > babies with birth defects. According to a Bureau of National Affairs report, > seven other women working in the same department who did not use VDT's gave > birth to normal children during the same period". Can you say "post hoc ergo propter hoc?" :-) Who knows what other things these women might have had in common? Did they smoke? Go to lunch together? One certainly can't tell from the article, but it all helps to raise the level of hysteria about radiation. James Jones /* End of text from net.med */