Chinese scientists raise alarm about LCD screen pollution
- Researchers find some of the highest concentrations of chemicals in homes
- Professor calls for urgent regulation of recycling plants where damaged screens are dumped
Chemicals leaking from millions of computer screens in homes, offices and schools could damage human health, according to research by Chinese scientists.
Chemistry professor Su Guanyong and colleagues at Nanjing University of Science and Technology in eastern Jiangsu province studied more than 360 types of chemicals used in computer and mobile phone screens and found that 87 of them could be a danger if they got into the environment.
Some chemicals in liquid crystal displays (LCDs) could alter genes, they said. Animal cells mutated unexpectedly if exposed, and preliminary results of their ongoing study published in Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences on Monday showed that one of the most polluted places was the home.
Su, professor at the school of environmental and biological engineering, said he had been worried about the effect of exposure to computer screens on human health for a long time.
Studies found that excessive radiation from screens could speed up the ageing of skin and blue light from diodes could harm the retina of the eye. “But nobody has looked beyond the brightness to unveil the dark secrets behind,” Su said.