For years, rumors have circulated that computer monitors -- a.k.a. video display terminals (VDTs) -- are linked to increased risk of miscarriage. Are the rumors true?
The short answer is probably not. The concept that radiation from video display terminals could cause miscarriages dates back to one study conducted in the 1980s, which found that women who worked on the terminals had a higher rate of miscarriage. However, subsequent research has found no evidence of a link, and some researchers have suggested that there might have been other factors that explained the link in the first study.
In addition, most modern computer monitors emit less radiation than older terminals in use in the 1980s. So even if there was a risk with the older models, it would not necessarily apply in the modern setting. For example, LCD monitors are fast becoming the standard, and they give off very little radiation at all.
That being said, some people remain concerned about video display terminals and other magnetic fields emitted by various types of everyday items, such as vacuum cleaners. A few studies have found evidence that constant exposure to magnetic fields from electronic appliances could theoretically cause disruptions to developing embryos, and one 2002 study found that women who had the highest exposure to magnetic fields had a higher risk of miscarriage than did women with lower levels of exposure. But the exact meaning of those findings is still up for debate. At this time, there is no scientific consensus that normal levels of radiation encountered in everyday life have any bearing on pregnancy risks, although researchers have acknowledged that women in professions with a high amount of exposure to x-rays may have increased risk.
Bottom Line: At this point, there's no reason to be overly concerned that spending too much time at the computer will cause you to have a miscarriage -- especially if your monitor is an LCD model.
Sources:
Goldhaber, Marilyn K., Michael R. Polen, and Robert A. Hiatt, "The risk of miscarriage and birth defects among women who use visual display terminals during pregnancy." American Journal of Industrial Medicine 1987. Accessed 16 Oct 2008.
Li, De-Kun, Roxana Odouli, Soora Wi, Teresa Janevic, Ira Golditch, T. Bracken, Russell Senior, Richard Rankin, and Richard Iriye, "A Population-Based Prospective Cohort Study of Personal Exposure to Magnetic Fields during Pregnancy and the Risk of Miscarriage." Epidemiology Jan 2002. Accessed 16 Oct 2008.
Marcus, M., R. McChesney, A. Golden, and P. Landrigan, "Video display terminals and miscarriage." J Am Med Womens Assoc Spring 2000. Accessed 16 Oct 2008.
Roman, E. V. Beral, M. Pelerin, and C. Hermon, "Spontaneous abortion and work with visual display units." British Journal of Industrial Medicine Jul 1992. Accessed 16 Oct 2008.
Shaw, Gary M., "Adverse human reproductive outcomes and electromagnetic fields: A brief summary of the epidemiologic literature." Bioelectromagnetics Apr 2000. Accessed 7 Oct 2008.
Youbicier-Simo, B.J., F. Boudard, C. Cabaner, and M. Bastide, "Biological effects of continuous exposure of embryos and young chickens to electromagnetic fields emitted by video display units." Bioelectromagnetics Dec 1998. Accessed 7 Oct 2008.
