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Investigation of Electric and Magnetic Fields and Operator Exposure Produced by VDTs: NIOSH VDT Epidemiology Study.

PB91130500

Publication Date	1990
Page Count	306
Abstract	The report addresses the subject of electric and magnetic field emissions of video display terminals (VDTs), both radiofrequency (RF) and extremely-low frequency (ELF), at AT&T and Bellsouth telephone operator facilities. The study represents one component of a larger study of possible reproductive effects in VDT operators being conducted by the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH). The purpose of the study was to assess the strength of the electric and magnetic fields produced by the different types of displays to which participants in the NIOSH study could have been exposed. Because of the study design used in the epidemiology investigation, the exposure evaluation included a study of the fields associated with VDTs and two other forms of displays which do not use cathode-ray-tube technology. A study of 96 displays, selected at random, and located in nine cities, was conducted during April 23 through May 6, 1990. The comprehensive survey included measurements of very-low-frequency (VLF) RF electric and magnetic field emissions associated with the horizontal deflection circuits of the VDTs, at a distance of 30 centimeters (cm) from all accessible surfaces of each VDT. In addition, measurements of the ELF electric and magnetic fields produced by the vertical deflection circuits associated with the vertical refresh of the screen display were measured at a distance of 30 cm. The deflection frequencies were also measured. Based on the findings of the study, it is concluded that typical personnel exposures to VDT, NGT or LED electric or magnetic field emissions in the telephone offices investigated are relatively low, within the range of other exposure data on VDTs reported by other researchers, and are substantially less than any electric and magnetic field exposure limits developed for radiation protection purposes by organizations within the United States and many other countries.
Keywords	Electromagnetic fields Operators(Personnel) Occupational exposure Epidemiology Cathode ray tubes Field strength Field emissions Data processing equipment Frequencies Video display terminals
Source Agency	National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health
NTIS Subject Category	49E - Optoelectronic Devices & Systems 49 - Electrotechnology 57V - Radiobiology 57Y - Toxicology 57U - Public Health & Industrial Medicine 94D - Job Environment 41I - Job Environment
Corporate Authors	Tell (Richard) Associates, Inc., Las Vegas, NV.; Robert A. Taft Labs., Cincinnati, OH.
Supplemental Notes	Sponsored by Robert A. Taft Labs., Cincinnati, OH.
Document Type	Technical Report
Title Note	Final rept.
NTIS Issue Number	199109
Contract Number	PHS-90-37729

Investigation of Electric and Magnetic Fields and Operator Exposure Produced by VDTs: NIOSH VDT Epidemiology Study.

Investigation of Electric and Magnetic Fields and Operator Exposure Produced by VDTs: NIOSH VDT Epidemiology Study.
PB91130500

Publication Date	1990
Page Count	306
Abstract	The report addresses the subject of electric and magnetic field emissions of video display terminals (VDTs), both radiofrequency (RF) and extremely-low frequency (ELF), at AT&T and Bellsouth telephone operator facilities. The study represents one component of a larger study of possible reproductive effects in VDT operators being conducted by the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH). The purpose of the study was to assess the strength of the electric and magnetic fields produced by the different types of displays to which participants in the NIOSH study could have been exposed. Because of the study design used in the epidemiology investigation, the exposure evaluation included a study of the fields associated with VDTs and two other forms of displays which do not use cathode-ray-tube technology. A study of 96 displays, selected at random, and located in nine cities, was conducted during April 23 through May 6, 1990. The comprehensive survey included measurements of very-low-frequency (VLF) RF electric and magnetic field emissions associated with the horizontal deflection circuits of the VDTs, at a distance of 30 centimeters (cm) from all accessible surfaces of each VDT. In addition, measurements of the ELF electric and magnetic fields produced by the vertical deflection circuits associated with the vertical refresh of the screen display were measured at a distance of 30 cm. The deflection frequencies were also measured. Based on the findings of the study, it is concluded that typical personnel exposures to VDT, NGT or LED electric or magnetic field emissions in the telephone offices investigated are relatively low, within the range of other exposure data on VDTs reported by other researchers, and are substantially less than any electric and magnetic field exposure limits developed for radiation protection purposes by organizations within the United States and many other countries.
Keywords	Electromagnetic fields Operators(Personnel) Occupational exposure Epidemiology Cathode ray tubes Field strength Field emissions Data processing equipment Frequencies Video display terminals
Source Agency	National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health
NTIS Subject Category	49E - Optoelectronic Devices & Systems 49 - Electrotechnology 57V - Radiobiology 57Y - Toxicology 57U - Public Health & Industrial Medicine 94D - Job Environment 41I - Job Environment
Corporate Authors	Tell (Richard) Associates, Inc., Las Vegas, NV.; Robert A. Taft Labs., Cincinnati, OH.
Supplemental Notes	Sponsored by Robert A. Taft Labs., Cincinnati, OH.
Document Type	Technical Report
Title Note	Final rept.
NTIS Issue Number	199109
Contract Number	PHS-90-37729