Abstract: Objective To understand occupational hazards of visual displayterminal(VD T)operation and to provide the basis for health protection.Methods The environ mental monitoring of VDT workplace in different industries in Shantou city was carried out and the health status of 583 VDT operators was surveyed.Results The concentration of CO₂(0.06%-0.08%)and the intensity of noise(67-74 dB)were high.While the illumination(50-180 Lux)was lowand lowdose X-rays existed.The ill symptoms of visual,musculo skeletal and nervous system were significantly higher among VDT operators compared to that of the control group(P<0.01).The abnormal menstruation and pregnancy rate of feale VDT operators was also higher than that of the controls(P<0.05).Conclusion The occupational hazards of VDT operation is obvious and it is necessary to develop health standards for VDT operation.