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Safety Issues From Radiation From Monitors

Radiation is found in many objects and produced by others, including many types of computer monitors. Dr. Herbert L. Abrams, emeritus professor of radiology at Stanford University, states that scientific study illustrates that "even low doses of radiation may pose a risk of cancer, and that there was not a threshold below which exposure may be viewed as harmless."

  1. Cathode Ray Tubes

    • Many older monitors are constructed with cathode ray tubes. The CRT operates with an electron stream released from the heated tube that is placed inside a vacuum. The speed of the rays are released on a screen treated with a phosphor. This fluorescent material lights to show the image.

    Exposure Levels

    • Nearly 3 percent of the average daily radiation exposure comes from consumer products, such as monitors, according to Lenovo Corp. These radiation amounts are regulated by the federal Food and Drug Administration.

    Study Results

    • The Health Physics Society states that, as of 2009, all monitors using electrical power release some sort of radiation, but "the scientific studies to date generally indicate that [it] is not hazardous at the levels emitted."

    Electromagnetic Radiation

    • X-rays, a type of ionizing radiation, "are capable of removing electrons from atoms and damaging living cells and the DNA of those cells," according to the Environmental Protection Agency. The EPA says there is no evidence that radiation from computers has resulted in human injury.

    Regulations

    • Companies must test monitors to ensure the device meets the Federal Regulation Code, Title 21. Each device has a label listing the radiation emitted from the monitor.

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