Office workers are being made ill by staring at computer screens all day, research has found. The study by the University of Reading, UK, claims that low level radiation from monitors interferes with the functioning of the brain, leading to so-called sick-building syndrome. Symptoms include head and joint aches, itchy eyes, depression and loss of concentration and memory, which, if the claims prove to be true, could lead to the kind of workplace health and safety overhaul and litigation that arose with the discovery of Repetitive Strain Injury several years ago.
The report outlined conclusions reached from an eight-week trial of a prototype device designed to block emissions. The study focused on 100 workers at a Southampton health authority, and involved fitting half the guinea-pigs’ monitors with the devices, half without. After four weeks the test monitors were switched without the knowledge of the workers, and the researchers discovered symptoms dropped on average 36% with the newly-protected employees. Between seven and 12 symptoms were recorded, and the overall number increased when the shields were removed.
