Newsgroups: bit.listserv.c+health
Date:         Sat, 26 Sep 1992 14:21:22 -0700
From:         mgilbert@FIRST.ETC.BC.CA
Subject:      Correction to supplement to MLEVIN...
Comments: To: C+HEALTH%IUBVM.BITNET@uvvm.uvic.ca

This is a re-posting of Mike Levin's response to my queries.  My first
transmission seems only to have included 2 of 4 responses. This includes
the remainder (The fourth was of prime importance to me.)

Mike Gilbert
++++++++++

N.B.  Posted, as noted, with the author's consent.


>... As for factors modulating the effect, our own work suggests
>that the timing of exposure relative to the cell cycle timing is
>crucial. There are other miscellanious factors, which are not
>well characterized. As em fields can be a stress like any other, I
>imagine that it is probably that the overall health of the system in
>question probably matters.
>
>3.      What practical precautions would you deem prudent in order to
>minimize risk to the students with whom I work?
>
>   "Prudent" is as always a tightrope between providing adequate
>protection, and not going overboard with useless measures. There is no
>practical way (that I know of, anyways) to shield all of the ELF
>radiation emmitted by monitors.  My only suggestion is to make sure
>that you are not in front of the *back* of a monitor (such as may be
>on your desk, facing away from you, that another person is working
>on). Several dosimetry studies showed that most of the fields are
>emmitted from the rear, not the front, of most monitors.
>
>*4.      Would you or do you allow your child to use computer equipment on
>a regular, on-going basis?
>
>   The short answer would be "yes". I use computers all the time, and
>would allow my child to do so. I would not want a pregnant wife to use
>it.
>
>   The long answer is that of course it would be better not to sit in
>front of VDT's; it would be better for our health not to do many of
>the things we do. However, some are unavoidable, and the occupation of
>computer programmer is overall probably less deleterious to health
>than many other common professions. My own personal opinion is that
>when one uses a VDT over extended periods of time there are other
>factors which (at least on the short term) are more important than the
>ELF factor. These include: subaudible noise emmitted by poor quality
>terminals which causes headaches; incorrect lighting, the flicker of
>which differs from the refresh rate of the monitor and also causes
>eye tension and headaches; the eyesight damage probably caused from
>long periods of use (do you sit as close to a TV set as you do to a
>computer terminal?); etc. These things affect you, and are
>preventable. The jury is still out on the long term effects of
>VDT-emmitted ELFs.
>
>P.S.  Do I have your permission to post any reply you may make to the
>C+HEALTH List?
>
>   Sure. Please also mention to people that I don't subscribe to this
>list, and if they want to get in touch with me, they need to send
>email directly.
>
>Mike Levin
>
>
============================================
Mike Gilbert
    Technology Co-ordinator, School District #81
    Fort Nelson,  B.C.   V0C 1R0
    CANADA
    Voice: 604.774.6958     Fax:   604.774.6960

InterNet: mgilbert@first.etc.bc.ca
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