CRT – Cathode Ray Tube

Exposure from sitting close to computer screens was found in secretaries and later animators and graphic designers who use computers everyday.  A book called “Black on White” from Sweden, followed by a book called “Invisible Illness” documents how the CRT monitor had a role in the early electromagnetic exposures.

Plasma

The new wave of large screens televisions determined that a stronger signal effected people more then LED

Plasma uses gas and phosphors – while LCD uses liquid crystals and color filters.

LED

A less powerful signal from LED monitors was found to be better for people more sensitive to electromagnetic radiation.  However the transformer box located in the monitor was found to the be strongest part of these new monitors.  Increased sheilding in that area could improve the safety for those who use computers over a long term.

Swedish Association For the Electrically and VDT Injured

http://www.feb.se/FEB/feb_info.html

Electromagnetic Radiation from Computers

Inside the casing of a computer is a box which converts the power level to the amount the computer requires, Next to a processor and on to a hard drive, cdrom, printer, monitor and modem.   Wires from devices and Wireless devices can add to this mix of this often unnoticed electromagnetic soup.

Older computers ran at a processor speed that like cordless phones,  increased every year,  giving many people a few years of one frequency, then a few more years of another frequency from constantly changing technology.

Over the years long term exposure to many different divices at many different frequencies and power levels can take a toll on the body.

 

lipoatrophia-semicircularis

The semicircular lipoatrophy (Ls) is a rare idiopathic condition characterized by semicircular grooves in the skin, usually on the anterolateral aspect of the thigh. It is characterized by atrophy of the subcutaneous fat cells, while the skin and muscles are not met. The Ls was considered very rare, but since 1995 an explosion in the number of people was observed in Belgian companies and later also in other countries (eg Spain), where several hundred individuals presented a Ls All these people were part of the administrative staff of companies and worked in renovated or new offices.http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/19577378

http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/19338008

Summary / Abstract

Introduction. The semicircular lipoatrophy thighs is a disease whose incidence has remained scarce for years. It is only very recently that “epidemic” has manifested itself in hundreds of subjects who had for an administrative job in common.

Observation. The old etiopathogenic hypotheses give place to those involving electromagnetic fields generated by IT equipment and cabling. This would be the modifications induced intrinsic bioelectric properties of the skin that may influence macrophage biology lipophagic activity in the hypodermis. The electroactivation of these cells would be followed by the release of TNF-α.

Discussion.
The semicircular lipoatrophy thighs is a problem that can affect an employee on two. Rather than hope for effective drug treatment, prevention should be promoted by adapting working conditions
job-related computer equipment.

English: http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/16885849

French: http://www.next-up.org/pdf/CnrsCatInistLipolyseElectromagnetiqueEtLipoatrophieSemiCirculaireDesCuissesResume.pdf

13 cases of lipoatrophy among workers in the hospital Gregorio Maranon http://www.elmundo.es/elmundo/2007/11/19/madrid/1195487958.html

A Barcelona daycare closed due to 4 cases (2 children and 2 employees) lipoatrophy: http://saludlaboral-fspugtcordoba.blogspot.ca/2013/04/divulgativos-cierran-provisionalmente.html

La Caixa will consider the semicircular lipoatrophy a minor accident at work.

Last Updated on Wednesday, 30/05/2007 5:58 p.m. (CET)

MADRID .- La Caixa has adopted the policy of the administration and decided to consider the cases of semicircular lipoatrophy a minor accident with no injuries among its employees. The action takes place on a provisional basis, pending the conclusions reached in the scientific study […].

According to a statement from La Caixa, the entity has 124 cases of semicircular lipoatrophy among the 23,424 employees of that entity. However, in early May, the CCOO union said there avait168 people with this disorder. Since the first cases, CCOO said that the illnesses were considered, something that the company first refused to point saying there was no evidence that the disease was work-related.

Some reports have linked this disorder with environmental conditions of the office. Dry conditions and too static could alter adipose tissue and cause cracks in the workers’ legs.

However, these cases are not a theory. For this reason, La Caixa, with Mutua Universal, Abertis, Caixa Catalunya, natural gas and Telefonica has promoted a study to determine the cause of this condition.

In a statement of the entity, has announced the start of the study whose organizing committee is chaired by Enric Banda, until now general manager of the Catalan Foundation for Research and Innovation. The initiative also involved the project sponsors, management, unions (CCOO, SECPB, UGT, SIB and FEC) as well as associations, businesses and stakeholders.

The scientific study was structured in various stages of completion and should be completed in the first quarter of 2008. In each phase there will be conducted periodic reports with the results. Finally, conclusions will be announced at the time that may be useful for all of society, the statement said.

The Scientific Committee is composed of the following organizations: the Polytechnic University of Catalonia, the Higher Council for Scientific Research, the Ramon y Cajal Hospital, the Centre for Research in Environmental Epidemiology, the Hospital Clinic of Barcelona and Applus +.

So far, several companies have been affected by this disorder. Agbar, with 40 affected employees and natural gas, 150 employees, considering early semicircular lipoatrophy as an occupational disease.

Source in Spanish: http://www.elmundo.es/elmundosalud/2007/05/30/medicina/1180540727.html

February 12, 2009, when the health committee and full provincial security was held in Madrid confirmed 27 cases of lipoatrophy in District C, a town supposed intelligent buildings …https://migueljara.wordpress.com/ 2009/04/04 / sindrome del edificio-enfermo-en-la-ciudad-telefonica /

Barcelona City Council decides to close a library “flagship” of the city due to the accumulation of cases of semicircular lipoatrophy among employees shortly after it opened on May 9, 2011. or here:http://www.elperiodico.com/es/noticias/barcelona/bcn-reabrira-septiembre-biblioteca-guarderia-del-eixample-afectadas-por-lipoatrofia-2525112