DO COMPUTER TERMINALS HARM YOUR DEVELOPING BABY? by Cris Mark
Recently I was asked about the possibilities of computers being linked to miscarriages, pre-maturity and still births.
I think the question is one us older moms, may logically wonder about. We remember the old tube TV's with their radiation output. We remember our parents constant scolding, to back away from the set, as they believed them to cause blindness and sterility.
The good news is, today's televisions are considerably safer, and so is your computer video display terminal.
Back in the 1980's, reports of miscarriages or birth defects among pregnant women who worked on computers led to several large studies, with varying results.
In 1989, The Ontario Hydro and the University of Toronto sponsored a study on the reproductive effects in mice from VDTs (Corey, P. et al., 1989).
Results from this study reported, "Magnetic fields cause no adverse effects on fetal development in mice."
In another study, the so called "hen-house project". Labs in six countries exposed chicken eggs to low frequency pulsed magnetic fields (Berman E., et al. 1990). There was a small, but significant, increase in the number of abnormal chick embryos. Industry officials called this study "inconclusive".
Another case-controlled study suggested a small elevated risk for miscarriage for women who used video terminals for more than 20 hours a week during the first trimester of pregnancy (Goldhaber, M.K., et al., 1988).
A US Office of Technology Assessment in 1989 concluded that there was some legitimate reason for concern.
However, the National Radiation Policy Branch in the UK conducted a comprehensive review of VDT radiation in 1994 and concluded, that there was no reason to be concerned.
Most of the more recent studies and trials indicate no need for concern.
So, should women be concerned? Some would say "no", others say, "probably not". Others suggest some caution.
After having read a few hundred pages of conflicting results, I believe on the caution side.
Press releases are rarely written by the scientists themselves, and therefore, results reported are often interpreted by the interest group sponsoring the study.
Fact is, electro magnetic radiation, has always been linked to at least a small risk for some people. Even your cuddly electric blanket emits some electro magnetic radiation, and pregnant women should probably limit their use as well.
While I am confident the risk from your computer video display terminal, is between very small to nil. I did find, and suggest using the following easy to follow precautions:
Avoid touching the screen or sides of the machine.
Try to take a short break every hour. Remain at least 65cm or 18 inches from the screen if you can. Try to keep at least one meter or three feet, from the back and sides of other machines in the office.
When it comes to our little miracles, I believe it's always better to be safer than sorry.
About the author: Cris Mark is a freelance writer, and author of Making Babies At 40+. Visit her site Mid Life Mom's to look at the many issues concerning the health, wealth, and needs of the mature mom.
Discussion board, link exchange, and our free newsletter can be found at http://www.midlifemom.com
Copyright@2003
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