|
GAS from COMPUTERS and other sources
Computers
give off different types of gasses. Some people are highly sensitive to
these gases. One source of this ’gas’ is the plastic components; most
plastics are unstable and break down naturally over time, especially
when exposed to ultraviolet light and sunlight. (That’s the reason why
they turn yellow and brittle.) The gases given off by this breakdown
are called ’out-gassing’ and
only occur in small amounts. But when the equipment is new, the
out-gassing is much greater and noticeable even to people who aren’t
particularly sensitive. This is similar to the smell that we get when
we enter a new car. That smell is out-gassing from the vinyl, plastic
carpet and hard plastic interiors, as well as the wiring. A new
computer has a similar smell.
People who have been sensitized (by previous exposure to plastic
solvents) may react to even small amounts of this gas by getting
headaches, dizziness, and respiratory problems, etc. Chips and printed
circuits use mercury-based compounds that give off a gas when current
flows through them. The solution is to work in a room with good
ventilation.
Other office materials: New
office furnishings are also nasty - chipboard uses phenol resins and
formaldehydes; carpeting (especially foam padding), paint and fabrics
give off obnoxious chemicals when new. So you need to open every window
you can for as many days as you can. The solvents in whiteout, rubber
cement thinner and permanent magic markers (like Sharpies) cause
"damage to the central and peripheral nervous system." Toluene, xylol,
xylene, benzene, n-hexane, etc. are truly toxic. Contact the
manufacturers for more info. It has be experienced that latex causes serious reactions in hospitals.
LASER PRINTERS and breathing problems
Laser
printers emit a lot of toner dust, which contains carbon and solvents,
and quite a few people are sensitive to it. You can smell it when the
printer is on, and especially on freshly printed-paper. You may notice
wheeziness, coughing, sneezing, etc. People working at copy centers and
service bureaus suffer from headaches, and suspect the toner dust. NCR
paper (’carbonless’ paper) can also cause wheeziness. Good ventilation,
drawing air away from the operator would help reduce such reactions.
Good
ventilation in a commercial or home office is sometimes hard to
achieve, especially in sealed buildings. You can try going outdoors and
breathing deeply for 10 minutes every hour or so.
MONITORS and HEADACHES
Radiation is a well-known problem. More radiation is emitted by the
back of the monitor than the screen, so you, your co-workers and family
members should never sit close to the back of your computer.
Another hazard is the headache produced by the almost invisible
’flicker’ of the monitor as the image on screen is refreshed. The
solution is to increase the refresh rate of the monitor to at least
75hz. Your monitor driver or control panel should offer you a choice of
refresh rates. To find out if your monitor is flickering, pay attention
only to the view in your peripheral vision. If you see a faint flicker,
or find yourself getting frequent headaches, increase your refresh
rate, reduce the contrast on screen, sit further from the screen, and
increase the ambient lighting around your workstation.
Standard fluorescent lights also flicker and can cause headaches or
dizziness. If you can, use reflected light from halogens or
daylight-spectrum fluorescents - shine the light onto the ceiling or
wall, never toward your eyes. Best of all is reflected daylight, but
don’t allow glare on the screen.
The way you position your head is also important. Your monitor should
be placed below the level of your head, and tilted slightly upward, so
your gaze is slightly downward, putting your neck in a more natural,
relaxed position.
Note: NEVER
work past the point of discomfort. Stretch out for ten minutes - right
now - save your hands, arms, back and maybe your career.
Chemicals From Computers
Studies
have shown that computers themselves are housing some of the most
dangerous chemicals on earth. Let’s have a look at a few of them and
their effects on mankind.
Lead is
one of the few natural substances that have no use in the human body.
At even very low levels, Lead has been shown to cause health problems.
The difficulty with Lead is that once it is mined from the earth, there
is no known way to destroy or make it harmless.
Lead can damages the central and peripheral nervous systems, blood
system and kidneys in humans. Lead accumulates in the environment and
has effects on plants, animals and microorganisms.
Consumer electronics constitute 40% of lead found in landfills and
scrap yards. An average computer uses 4 pounds of Lead, i.e., 6.2% of
the total weight of the PC. The recyclable efficiency of Lead is a low
5%. The main uses of Lead in Consumer Electronics are for soldering of
PCBs and other electronic components as well as Glass panels in
computer monitors (cathode ray tubes).
As computers become obsolete, more and more lead gets accumulated which is harmful to our health.
Cadmium is
an extremely toxic metal. It has a possible risk of irremediable
effects on human health. Cadmium and cadmium compounds amass in the
human body, in particular in kidneys. Cadmium is absorbed mainly
through respiration but also enters as food. Due to its long half-life
period (30 years), cadmium can easily be accumulated in amounts that
cause symptoms of poisoning. Cadmium shows a danger of cumulative
effects in the environment due to its acute and chronic toxicity.
In electrical and
electronic equipment, cadmium occurs in certain components such as SMD,
chip resistors, infrared detectors and semiconductors. Older types of
cathode ray tubes contain cadmium. Moreover, cadmium is used as a
plastic stabilizer. It is also used in Batteries, PWBs, etc.
As computers become obsolete, more and more cadmium gets accumulated which is harmful to our health.
Mercury is
a powerful poison. Published research has shown that mercury, even in
small amounts, is more toxic than lead, cadmium and even arsenic! It is
estimated that 22 % of the yearly world consumption of mercury is used
in electrical and electronic equipment. It is used in mobile phones,
Batteries, PWBs. Although mercury is just 0.0022% of the total weight
of the computer, it is still a health hazard. As computers become
obsolete, more and more mercury gets accumulated which is harmful to
our health.
Other hazardous metals used in electronics are: Arsenic (0.0013%), Barium (0.0315%), Selenium (0.0016%), Silver (0.0189%).
Note:
These alarming statistics have been revealed to make every one aware of
the environmental and health hazards of computers.
Electromagnetic radiation and computer use
The
biggest risk to life from computers is electricity. Electric shock from
mains voltage is often fatal. Ensure that cables are inserted correctly
and are checked regularly. Computers and associated equipment do
produce very small electromagnetic fields. There is no evidence that
there is any hazard from these fields. There is no risk to unborn
children in computer workers who are pregnant.
Learn more about Healthy Computing habits.
Work with display screen equipment and computers:
- does not damage eyesight
- does not affect pregnant women or their unborn children
- does not cause cancer
Previous: Eyestrain
Next: Work Station Setup
Note: While every care is taken
to provide medically accurate and up to date information in this web
site, it is to be noted that this advice is not intended to replace the
advice of your physician. Before undertaking the advice contained in
this web site, you should consult a medical professional.
Privacy Policy
Other pages on healthy computing: Awkward Postures
chairs Cts Desk Exercises Keyboard Lighting Monitors Mouse Msd Telephones Ventilation
|