3 ms·
This is the first time I've ever heard of a computer monitor emitting radiation when it's turned off (I'm assuming a monitor inside luggage would have no power
by tgflynn 16y ago
This is the first time I've ever heard of a computer monitor emitting radiation when it's turned off (I'm assuming a monitor inside luggage would have no power source). CRT's emit some X-rays due to high-voltage vacuum tubes but only when they are on, and who uses CRT's anymore ?
I'd be curious if anyone can explain why an unpowered monitor or a flat-screen monitor would emit ionizing radiation. A Google search for "computer monitor radiation" turned up no technically useful information on the first couple of screens.
- dhughes 16y agoThe article never stated it was a flatscreen or CRT monitor but if radiation was detected I'd say it must have been a CRT monitor. It may be the lead in the glass, lead is already slightly radioactive and being bombarded by x-ray probably doesn't improve that situation any.
- tgflynn 16y agoI am quite confident that bombardment with X-rays of several keV has no effect on the natural background radiation of lead or any other material. Such effects require nuclear interactions with activation energies in the MeV range or greater.