COMPUTERS AND YOUR HEALTH
Combating the Effects of Low-Level Radiation
by Clyde Ford

This article (possibly the first in a series) explores what you can do to prevent your computer from becoming a hazard to your health and a major source of stress in your life. You may well be familiar with some of the facts and recommendations contained herein; but, hopefully, one or two items may pique your interest, and help make this wonderful electronic world a little less detrimental to your well-being.

The major hazards of a computer environment can be divided into three categories: low-level radiation, ergonomics, and personal work habits and
style. The focus of this article is the effect of low-level radiation; it includes recommendations on how to alleviate and prevent some of the potential health consequences that attend these hazards.

LOW-LEVEL RADIATION
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The computer environment is a wonderful source of low-level ionizing radiation, which consists of electrons that are relatively slow moving (in comparison to the speed of light). Unlike their faster counterparts (such as x-rays), these slow- moving particles enter your body but do not penetrate it completely; instead, they are trapped inside. X-rays and other fast particles do not pose nearly as many health problems as the slow-moving particles that are produced with x-ray beams.

In your body, the slow-moving particles collide with atoms, often changing
their atomic structure by knocking an electron loose. The altered substances produced as a result of these collisions are often called "free radicals" (not to be confused with those produced by the collisions of the 1960's).

These free radicals roam your body, combining and re-combining with normal molecules, and forming strange and unnatural products in the process. Free radicals, which have been implicated in the formation of cancer and in the aging process, certainly place an increased stress on your body's immune system, which is often mobilized to try to neutralize and dispose of them.

When you sit at a CRT (Cathode Ray Tube) computer screen, you are continuously bombarded with a low-level radiation field. This is one of the reasons why there has been so much concern about the use of CRT's by pregnant women: free radical formation in your body could jeopardize the health of the fetus.

There are many other considerations about low-level ionizing radiation and health. For more information, Robert O. Becker's "The Body Electric" is a good reference.

You should be aware that LCD's (Liquid Crystal Displays) emit considerably less low-level radiation than CRT's, so the Model 100's that we all love so dearly are actually a little safer for us than our IBM PC's. Remember, however, that any source of rapidly moving electrons produces a radiation field that interacts with you while in your body.

COMBATING LOW-LEVEL RADIATION
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It is very easy to prevent low-level radiation from causing a problem. For the last five years I have used "I-Protect," a lead-impregnated, acrylic screen that covers the front of my computer screen. It is constructed so that it is completely transparent--and yet the lead absorbs nearly 95% of all radiation coming from the CRT. The glass also magnifies the screen slightly, making it easier to read. I-Protect, which costs about $100, is available from the Langley-St. Clair Company (800/221-7070).

NUTRITION AND LOW-LEVEL RADIATION
=================================

One interesting area that is seldom discussed is the importance of good nutrition to us computer folks, and how it can help combat some of the harmful effects of our machines.

Any substance that binds free radicals prevents them from posing a health threat. The binding process, a form of oxidation, can be assisted nutritionally. If you use computers frequently, I suggest that you consider the following nutritional supplementation (over and above the good diet which I'm sure all of you have).

(1) Vitamin A (25,000-40,000 I.U. daily): Vitamin A is a
good supplement for combating free radicals. It is
normally available in high doses--the Recommended
Daily Allowance (RDA) is 10,000 I.U. (International
Units). It can be toxic when taken in extremely high
doses (over 100,000 I.U.) for more than a few
consecutive days. I generally advise people to begin
with 10,000-20,000 I.U. for two days or more,
gradually increase to 40,000 I.U. for several days,
then gradually decrease to 10,000 I.U. and even stop
taking it for several days. This will ensure that no
toxic levels are built up.


Furthermore, I recommend a water-soluble or pre-
emulsified form of vitamin A rather than one that is
oil based (from fish oil, lemon grass oil, etc.). The
former is harder to find in local health-food stores,
but is much easier for your body to assimilate and
use.

At the risk of sounding like your mother, let me
remind you of the dietary sources of vitamin A:
carrots (surprisingly, cooked carrots provide more
usable vitamin A than raw carrots) and dark green
leafy veggies are the chief sources.

Vitamin A also benefits your eyes (the subject of a
subsequent installment in this series), which are
placed under a considerable strain by constantly
staring at a computer screen.

(2) Vitamin E (800-1200 I.U. daily): Essentially for the
same reasons as vitamin A, vitamin E is a good
substance for binding free radicals. I like vitamin E
capsules that list "mixed tocopherols" on the label
and also include selenium.

Dietary sources of vitamin E include whole grains;
fresh, non-roasted nuts and seeds; and cold-processed
oils.

(3) Superoxide Dismutase (SOD): Several years ago, SOD was
all the rage in health-food circles. Known as a
binder of free radicals, SOD was touted as the anti-
aging, anti-nuke supplement. Hype aside, it is an
excellent substance for preventing the formation and
proliferation of free radicals. It is available in
many forms; simply read and follow the label
instructions.

(4) Miso: You non-macrobiotic folks may not know that miso
is a food made from fermented soybeans, rice, or other
grains. It is a rather salty but hearty food which is
used to make, among many other things, a bouillon-like
soup. There have been reports that a group of
macrobiotic Japanese whose diet included brown rice
and miso (macrobiotic staples) survived the bombing of
Hiroshima.


I should remind you to consult with someone before you embark on any extensive nutritional regime; use my remarks simply as guidelines about where to start. I'll be glad to answer any questions you may have; you can send them to me through your porter. If there is enough interest, I will continue this series with articles about the other major computer-related health hazards: ergonomics and personal work habits.

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Author's Note: Clyde Ford is the organizer of Meta:Health on The Meta
Network. A chiropractor from Richmond, Virginia, he is interested in
applying leading-edge insights from areas such as brain research and new
physics to health and healing.