Magnetic Fields of Video Displau Terminals and Spontaneous Abortion

Abstract

The aim of this study was to exam, ine whether work witha video display terminal and exposure o the magnetic fields of video display terminals are related to spontaneous abortion. The stidy was conducted among women employed ad bank clerks and clerical workets in three companies in Finland. The cases (191 spontaneous abortions) and controls (394) births) were identified from Finnish medical registers for the years 1975–1985. Use of video display terminals was defined using the worketrs own reports and information provided bythe companies. The assesment opf exposure to the magnetic fields was based on measurements of the fields of video display terminals. The odds ratio for spontaneous abortion for working with video display terminals wa not increased (odds ratio = 1. 1, 95% confidence intercval 0. 7 – 1. 6). However, the odds ratio for workers who had sed a video display term, inal with a h9gh level of extremely low frequency magnetic fields (>0. 9 βT) was 3. 4 (95% confidence interval 1. 4–8.6) compared with workers using a terminal with alow level of these magnetic fields (Am J Epiodemiol 1992. 136: 1041–51