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nairaland.net • View topic - Computer Hazards

Computer Hazards

Computer Hazards

Postby Richard Akindele » Sat Dec 16, 2006 9:49 pm

GAS from COMPUTERS and other sources

Some people are highly sensitive to the gasses given off by computers. 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 why they turn yellow and brittle.) The gasses 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. We all know what a new car smells like. 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. I've been told that chips and printed circuits use mercury-based compounds which give off a gas when current flows through them. So, work with good ventilation.

One sensitized friend kept her new computer in the garage for four months, turned on, with the fans blowing, to reduce the out-gassing before she used it. Her reaction has subsided. If you try this, you may as well run a diagnostic 'soak' test at the same time. In addition to airing out the worst of the various manufacturing compounds, you will find out if an electronic component is going to fail, because it will usually do so in the first week of continuous use. That's what the 90-day warranty is for - so burn it in!

Other office materials: New office furnishings are also nasty - chipboard uses phenolic resins and formaldehydes; carpeting (especially foam padding), paint and fabrics give off obnoxious chemicals when new. . . so open every window you can for as many days as you can. The solvents in white-out, rubber cement thinner and permanent magic marker (like Sharpies) cause "damage to the central and peripheral nervous sytem." Toluene, xylol, xylene, benzine, n-hezane, etc. are truly toxic. Contact the manufacturers for more info. (Note: latex is causing serious reactions in hospitals. Watch for the PBS report about 'sick buildings'.)

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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. Some acquaintances at copy centers and service bureaus complain of headaches, and suspect the toner dust. I haven't personally seen any studies, so I don't know for sure, but err on the side of caution. NCR paper ('carbonless' paper) can also cause wheeziness. Good ventilation, drawing air away from the operator, seems to be the answer.

Good ventilation in a commercial or home office is sometimes hard to achieve. . . especially in sealed buildings .(What idiot thought up that idea? It's as bad as working on an airplane, sharing everyone's air.) If worse comes to worst, go outdoors and breathe deeply for 10 minutes every hour or so. Hey, companies don't mind folks taking a smoke break - so why not take a fresh air break?

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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 flourescent lights also flicker and can cause headaches or dizziness. If you can, use reflected light from halogens or daylight-spectrum flourescents - 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 position of 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.

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CARPAL TUNNEL SYNDROME and repetitive motion injury

The beginning of repetitive motion injury can be signalled by sore tendons, burning, numb, or rubbery joints, wrist, hand and shoulder muscles or a spasm in a muscle, including back and neck muscles.

For artists and all computer workers, carpal tunnel and any other form of tendonitis or repetitive motion injury can be crippling. Many of my students are re-training, on disability from just such injuries. I know someone who can no longer sit at the computer. (She stands or kneels.) I know an artist who can use her hands only with difficulty due to this problem, and will be healing for years.

It is important that your hand and wrist be level with each other - no angling up or down of the hand. They will be level when your forearm is horizontal and parallel to the floor, and your upper arm should hang straight down, in a relaxed position. This means that your keyboard and mouse area should be fairly low, close to your lap. If you find yourself lifting your shoulder, unconsciously, or tilting your wrist to raise your forearm to a comfortable level, your keyboard and mouse are not low enough. You can raise your chair, especially if you remove the center drawer of your desk, and use a footrest to keep your legs in a comfortable, supported position. Don't tense your legs to keep from falling forward -- if you find yourself doing that, your chair is too far from the desk, is tilted forward, or is not giving you good back support. A footrest can help. Make sure you are sitting comfortably upright, with your lower back supported.

It is also important that your arms and wrists be fully supported on a resilient surface. Do not let your arm rest on the sharp edge of a table or shelf! You can use a folded hand towel for padding. It's soft, the height is easily adjusted, very comfortable and inexpensive.

After you establish a comfortable position for your arms and body, you can still incur repetitive motion injury because the keyboard and mouse force you to hold the same position for long periods of time. One solution is simply to change from one mouse type to another, every couple of weeks. By changing type, I mean a real change - from a rolling mouse to a track-ball, from a track-ball to a graphics tablet or other pointing device. The longer you stick with one, the more repetitive motion injury you will cause. Once a tendon is inflamed it may take months or years to heal because very little blood flows in that area.

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Use Common Sense

NEVER work past the point of discomfort. Stretching for ten minutes - right now - will save your hands, arms, back and maybe your career.
Richard Akindele
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Posts: 1120
Joined: Sun Apr 02, 2006 10:33 pm
Location: USA

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