Drawing on testimony presented at hearings before the Subcommittee on Health and Safety of the House of Representatives conducted between February 28 and June 12, 1984, this staff report addresses the general topic of video display terminals (VDTs) and possible health hazards in the workplace. An introduction presents the history of the development of VDTs and summarizes current scientific knowledge about VDT, with emphasis on the fear of radiation exposure. Figures are used to illustrate both how a VDT works and how VDT radiation is measured. Reproductive hazards from VDTs are discussed, including results of three surveys (Newspaper Guild-Mount Sinai, 9 to 5, and Canadian Scientists) and a proposed study by the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH). Remarks are also included from (1) witnesses from various labor organizations--9 to 5, the Service Employees International Union, the Communications Workers of America, and the Newspaper Guild--speaking for employees who use VDTs; (2) witnesses representing employers and business equipment manufacturers; and (3) a group of witnesses representing various aspects of the health professions. Findings and conclusions are followed by extensive appendices, which include: a witness list; a synopsis of testimony by various witnesses before the subcommittee; remarks on video display terminals and ELF/VLF (extra low frequency/very low frequency) electromagnetic fields; data on human factors standards for visual display units and the design of work stations, display packaging characteristics, display image characteristics, and lighting and reflectance; and a transcript of a demonstration of instruments for measuring radiation that was presented before the subcommittee by representatives of the American Newspaper Publishers Association. (JB)