I bought a LCD monitor today as my old monitor is playing up, but now I read that it has mercury in it (lighting tube) but that CRT monitors are't mercury free but contain 25 times more lead.

Which is the best for mercury toxic person - CRT or LCD? Please answer as soon as possible so I can take this monitor back to the shop tomorrow.

I'm no computer expert BUT the reason why I bought a LCD monitor is because it has lower radiation levels than a CRT.

I also read it has lower mercury and lead levels as well.

After doing some serious research..I have come to an answer!

You want to buy a LCD monitor that is "RoHS-compliant"...

RoHS-compliant LCD monitors just started shipping on q4 of 2005.

RoHS-compliant will be MERCURY and LEAD free.. I suggest you look into buying an NEC brand LCD monitor.

Check this monitor out..
http://www.letsgodigital.org/en/news/articles/story_4815.html

Expensive but well worth it.

I think it's time to upgrade my old 15 inch LCD. <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/smile.gif" alt="" />

Thanks so much, Dunk. The reason I went for LCD was that it has 1/5 power of CRT, no radiation and no other toxins. I didn't realise it had mercury though! My old monitor is 7 years old and probably emitting high voltage etc and at the stage where it needs a good bang to come on sometimes!

I will look up the link <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/smile.gif" alt="" /> I was SO stressed last night when I read about this. Thanks for replying. I work about 8 hours on the PC from home (run websites and am a student) aswell as use the PC to email friends etc. I know the PC isn't responsible for most of my health problems, however, as I had them long before I had a PC. It might be contributing to them of late, though.

I bought a RHOS compliant monitor, but it still contains mercury and lead. I then looked up RHOS in more detail and it says that mercury and lead are permitted, but restricted. However, the restrictions don't apply to some products were there is no substitute ie flouresent lights.

I'm sending the monitor back as I don't think it's going to be any different to the other LCD's out there.

I really don't know what to do now. I need a computer, but I also have it in my bedroom (only space in the house) and I just don't know what to do for the best.

I've researched this all afternoon, and from what I can gather, what is needed ia a planon backlight monitor rather than flouresent. finding one is another matter, though!

I will look up to see if the NEC one is avilable in the UK, but it's rather expensive and a lot bigger than I would like. About 15" is sufficient for me <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/smile.gif" alt="" />

I have emailed NEC to ask if they have mercury free computers available in the UK. I hope that more companies make them in the future <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/smile.gif" alt="" />

You can try Samsung as well, they are making mercury free monitors.

I found a study that stated that electro-magnetic waves emitted from devices cause mercury mobilization in patients with amalgam fillings. Low EMF devices are a great start. Mercury-free devices are even better.

Dunk, do you know which Samsung monitors are mercury free? I'm having no luck finding one. I emailed them, but haven't heard back. I haven't heard back from NEC either.

I believe the LED backlights are mercury free but I can't find any monitors with LED.

If anyone knows of one available in the UK, please let me know.

On the digital site they list a 17 inch version of the 19

http://www.letsgodigital.org/en/news/articles/story_4816.html

I'm not sure what their authority is for saying it is mercury free, though, or whether they are assuming ROHS means it is. But I don't think it is avilable in the UK.

Arch, I am tired of looking for the damn monitors! <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/wink.gif" alt="" /> Phiilips make some that are lead-free so, unless I hear something back from NEC or Samsung, I think I'll just by that one for now. It's at least a start! <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/smile.gif" alt="" />

I heard back from Samsung. They say all their monitors are now mercury-free. I have emailed back asking for a list of models. If they respond, I'll post them up <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/smile.gif" alt="" />

Samung says they can't provide me with a list of monitors that are mercury free as they don't know, only that some are. How pathetic is that! I've emailed them back saying that is appalling customer service and sugegst they provide me with the contact details of someone who does know.

I think a lot of these companies etc believe the general public are stupid. They tell me "all our monitors are now mercury free" believing I will go out and buy any of their monitors, when a lot of them on the market are old models. Really quite disgusting how much deception goes on.

It's so true.

I've been amazed in life discovering how often people lie.

This is especially true for doctors for whom I could make a list of times they told people that this or that herb would do nothing to help a particular condition, when in truth, they didn't know. They simply don't like to admit that they don't know something about something (pride).

Amazing.

Here's an idea...

To get results and make the people at companies accountable (at least in their mind), I will tell them something like this:

"I'm a member of a/an (online) group that shares information and research about mercury toxicity. We are interested in information about your mercury-free monitors."

This works. <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/wink.gif" alt="" />

They gave me a phone number to contact someone who "may" be able to help. I emailed a couple of other companies, but didn't hear back.

I've now ordered the Philips 15 inch lead-free TFT. It has mercury in it, but is TOC '03 which means it has less mercury than a lot of others do, and I figured the smaller the size the better. I doubt the mercury coming from the screen is as much of a concern as from fillings and cigarette smoke as it's not directly inhaled, but as soon as the LED monitors are available on the market, I want to get one <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/smile.gif" alt="" />

Philips also make lead-free CRT's, which I believe are also mercury free but use up a lot more power and still "flicker" and give off more radiation than LCD's, but I'm not sure. I was going to get one, but they only had 17 inch higher and that's too big for me. I perfer the picture on them.

I heard back from NEC. They say that the only monitor that is both lead and mercury free is SpectraView Reference 21.

ouch.. that is a very expensive monitor..

It certainly is! Hopefully LED technology will be more available in the next couple of years <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/smile.gif" alt="" /> At least lead-free is a start!

Hey Guys,
Just read this thread on monitors---very interesting! I did not know about the lead and mercury in them. The amazing thing is that every time I use my computer, I get spacey headed and feel weird for a while afterwards. Could this be from mercury emitting from my monitor? I have a radiation shield on it so I hope that is cut down. But the mercury emission is very concerning. Does anyone else have a reaction when using their computers?
Thanks for all the research and great info.

Chelan

Hi Chelan,

Yes, some people do get reaction to using computers. CRT's seem to cause more problems than LCD's, but some people get problems from those aswell, although I am not sure what.

The LCD's have a mercury backlight and generally give off about 4mg of mercury a year. Most of them have lead-soldering aswell. Also the screens can be very bright, but are generally thought to be easier on the eye than CRT's.

From what I have read, and I'm just learning, the problem with CRT's is the high amount of lead in them - about 6 pounds. Also they emit radiation, more as they age, and other toxins aswell as sometimes a high electromagnetic field. The screens also flicker (too quick for the eye to see) which can cause headaches and eye strain for some people.

I think it's similar situation to the fillings - some people are more affected than others and some people not at all. Some people are sensitive to electromagnetic fields.

Also the motherboards can contain lead-soldering aswell. Newer computers are now not having this as much, but always check.

I'm hoping that the lead-free LCD monitor I'm getting will be less toxic than the CRT one I have. It's especially worrying to me as I sleep in the same room as my PC. I know that my health problems are not all due to the PC as I had them ten years before I ever had a PC, but I don't think they are good for me.

I'd imagine that those of us who are sensitive to amalgam because of mercury and metals should try and get the best possible monitor that we can afford that is at least lead-free and TOC'03 compatible. I've also opted for a plastic casing rather than metal, which may or may not make a difference.

I think drinking plenty of water when on the PC can help, maybe getting an air purifier (I haven't got one, but it might help those extra sensitive to electrofields and metals) also taking alginate which can help excrete the toxins.

This is a subject of concern to me as I spend a lot of time on the computer. I never really thought about all this until lately.

This is my 5th day now with my nice new LCD monitor (:)) and I have noticed that my mental symptoms are less than with the previous monitor. This could be either:

1. less electromagnetic field, so less mercury released from the fillings.

2. Is lead free so I'm not getting lead to contend with aswell as mercury.

I personally think it could well be both.

On the other hand, might be just coicidence, but I do think it is helping. Will report back in another week <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/smile.gif" alt="" />

This may seem like a crazy question but I will ask it anyway. Do any of you with lots of mercury fillings find that YOU affect your computer?! When I had my fillings, the computer would crash all the time for me, but not for the rest of my family. I feel like I was jinxed! It doesn't seem that way now, but I haven't had them out for very long, so, we'll see what happens in the future. <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/smirk.gif" alt="" />

LOL, that is interesting, Dallas! My PC crashes all the time, but it is getting on in years <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/smile.gif" alt="" /> I can believe it is possible. I'm not sure I've heard of it outside of sci-fi, but I believe there are people who "react" with electrical equipment in some way.

Just in case someone is interested.

I'm pretty picky about monitors because I sit in front of one all day. After about 14 hours of researching along with my business partner (Laura), we found Samsung to have the best quality picture overall.

I use a Samsung SyncMaster 957mb and it's awesome. I certainly hope it's mercury and lead free but I didn't know enough to check at the time I purchased it.

Hope this helps.