Health alert over flat screen TVs

[ElsewheresDaughter]

Workers in factories that make flat screen televisions could suffer long-term health damage, say scientists.
A healthy 30-year-old man developed a serious lung disease after being exposed to a type of metal used to coat the screens.

Doctors at Toranomon Hospital in Tokyo found tiny deposits of the metal in the man's lungs, according to a report in the European Respiratory Journal.

But British consumers have been assured buying the televisions poses no risk.

There is no health risk whatsoever to UK buyers.

Information, Technology, Telecommunications and Electronics Association
A spokeswoman for the Information, Technology, Telecommunications and Electronics Association, known as Intellect, said: "These screens are manufactured in the Far East and by the time they reach the UK, they are totally sealed.

"There is no health risk whatsoever to UK buyers."

Flat screen TVs are proving more popular than ever. Sony, the world's largest consumer-electronics group, recently announced it was struggling to meet demand in Europe, with sales doubling in the six months to September.

But now Japanese doctors have raised concerns about whether this boom is threatening the health of employees who make them.

Respiratory condition

They examined a man who had been working on flat screen TVs for four years, during which time he was repeatedly exposed to an aerosol containing indium-tin oxide (ITO).

He had become ill with a devastating respiratory condition called pulmonary fibrosis.

This is a disorder of the lung tissues that are involved in exchanging oxygen and carbon dioxide.

It leads to scarring and thickening of the lung tissue and kills half its victims within five years.

The young man also had emphysema, another potentially fatal lung disorder that leaves sufferers struggling for breath.

When doctors examined the employee's lungs, they discovered tiny particles of ITO.

This is a type of metal used in liquid crystal displays or plasma display panels for TVs, computers and video monitors.

Death

Only one previous incident of a fatality due to inhaling ITO has been documented.

But it was an employee who worked at the same production plant as the latest case.

Doctors who made the discovery called for more research on the possible toxic effects of ITO in order to protect industry workers against future health damage.

"As industrial consumption of ITO rises, the potential health hazard caused by occupational exposure to indium compounds has been attracting much more attention.

"Maximum measures should be taken to protect workers from the potential toxicities of indium compounds."

[Sporadicus]

1. Small Price to Pay

for maximum viewing pleasure :eyes:

[shadowknows69]

2. Of course it harms you

why do you think the grey aliens look that way. they've had this tech for 1000's of years longer than we have and have mutated as a race from the various toxins. They all used to look like John Goodman.

[ElsewheresDaughter]

11. here's the link..

http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/health/4120401.stm

[Must_B_Free]

3. I have to speak my gripes about TV now

90% of the content is 4:3 aspect ratio, standard TV rectangle.

They sell pretty much all wide screens now. To fill the screen, they stretch out the TV image, distorting everything. If you don't do that and just have black edges, those black areas stay black while the rest of the screen burns in.

Plus, these flat ones, if they are plasma technology, have very slow tracking across a large screen - so moving images jerk, jerk, jerk as they move.

Man, they sure have managed to ruin television.

[nymd81]

4. it's well worth the risk!

I love mine!

[Name removed]

6. Deleted message

Message removed by moderator. Click here to review the message board rules.

[PA Democrat]

7. How nice of you to sacrifice the health of the employees who make

these TV's. Read the article: YOUR health as a consumer is NOT at risk. Still feel that way?

[Name removed]

8. Deleted message

Message removed by moderator. Click here to review the message board rules.

[antigone382]

12. You have a flat screen TV after losing your house to a hurricane?

Is that what you got with your FEMA check?

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_topic&forum=104&topic_id=2887907

[durablend]

13. He probably looted it from the neighbors

HEHEHE :evilgrin:

[PA Democrat]

14. He's been tombstoned

My radar went up on that guy after he bragged on New Years Eve that he had spent the day water skiing and then on another thread said he was flying to NYC to spend new Year's Eve in Times Square, all this while he was posting on DU the entire day!!???

[underpants]

5. Cell phones cause starvation in Africa flat screens kill workers

Not surprising. I'd bet this will make it more attractive to arm chair warriors.

The cell phone thing is the result of panning for coltan (intergral part of cell phone technology). Men can scrape by farming or make $$$ working or carrying an AK to protect those working for coltan mining companies. Greatly diminishes the food produced and there by increases starvation.

[Blue_Tires]

9. link?

[ElsewheresDaughter]

10. opps .....link here...i'm so sorry

http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/health/4120401.stm