Some CFL bulbs emit UV at levels high enough to cause cell death and cancer

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Shameless cross post for exposure, hat tip to jj and donnay for pointing it out.



Study: Some Eco-Friendly Light Bulbs May Put Health At Risk

http://miami.cbslocal.com/2013/01/02/study-eco-friendly-light-bulbs-may-put-health-at-risk/

January 2, 2013 11:25 PM

MIAMI (CBSMiami) — Every time you turn on the lights, you may be putting yourself at risk, according to a disturbing new study.

Energy efficient bulbs are eco-friendly and can save you big bucks, but experts say that some could also have a dark side.

“When there is something in your house, you don’t perceive any danger, you wouldn’t get that close to an x-ray in a doctor’s office,” explained Miriam Rafailovich, Professor of Materials Science at Stony Brook University in New York.

Money saving, compact fluorescent light bulbs emit high levels of ultra violet radiation, according to a new study. Research at Long Island’s Stony Brook found that the bulbs emit rays so strong that they can actually burn skin and skin cells.

“The results were that you could actually initiate cell death,” said Marcia Simon, a Professor of Dermatology.

Exposure to the bulbs could lead to premature aging and skin cancer, according to doctors.

“It can also cause skin cancer in the deadliest for, and that’s melanoma,” said Dr. Rebecca Tung.

In every bulb that researchers tested they found that the protective coating around the light creating ‘phosphor’ was cracked, allowing dangerous ultraviolet rays to escape.

Homeowners expressed concern over the effect that the bulbs could have on children.

“That’s very unfortunate because the kids are getting exposed to so many different things at a younger age,” said Vicky Cobb.

As the federal government phases out the old incandescent bulbs in favor of more efficient bulbs like compact fluorescents, CFCs are among the choices of which bulb they use.

“Now that you’re telling me there’s a health risk, I really don’t think it’s fair that they would not sell the other kind of light bulbs,” said Cobb.

The compact fluorescent industry claims that the bulbs are safe, but admitted that they emit ultraviolet rays. The industry released a statement that said “the levels of UV radiation emitted are acceptably low,” and that they are safe under normal use.

Stony Brook researches advised that customers exercise caution and stay two feet away from the bulbs at all times, while storing them in an overhead fixture or lamp.
 
Oh God, how I hate what we have become...

As the federal government phases out the old incandescent bulbs in favor of more efficient bulbs like compact fluorescents, CFCs are among the choices of which bulb they use.

“Now that you’re telling me there’s a health risk, I really don’t think it’s fair that they would not sell the other kind of light bulbs,” said Cobb.

"I don't think that's faiiiiiiirrrrr"...bleats Boobus.

Does it not occur to anybody outside our merry little band of refuseniks, to question just where the FUCK the FedCoats think they have the authority to "phase out" any consumer product that there is demand for???
 
stay two feet away - so much for a bedside table lamp, or the kind my grandparents had that clipped on the headboard over their heads.
 
stay two feet away - so much for a bedside table lamp, or the kind my grandparents had that clipped on the headboard over their heads.

cfl's near your bed? yikes. I wouldn't go there. yuk first bulb that breaks.
 
Ok, somebody did some research on these fucking CFLs awhile ago, strongly recommend reading this link:

Paul Wheaton..permies.com and richsoil.com said:
If you leave all of the lightbulbs in your house on 24/7, then replacing all of the incandescent light bulbs in your house with CFL light bulbs will save you money. For people that typically leave lights off when not in use, it turns out that incandescent light is cheaper than fluorescent light - the exact opposite of what we have been told all these years.

With a little knowledge, you can stop wasting money on CFLs. Both in the short term and the long term. The long term stuff includes tax issues and the toxicity tie-in which leads to superfund cleanups and medical bills.

Read the entire article (and successfully funded kickstarter experiment, and loads of video links):

http://www.richsoil.com/CFL-fluorescent-light-bulbs.jsp
 
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It has always felt pretty strange to me.

Another one is the lights in new car taillight. Light emitting diodes. ? They burn into my retina and leave me seeing spots after I've been behind them.

And don't even get me started on them new blue headlight people.

Still good post original poster.
 
Oh God, how I hate what we have become...



"I don't think that's faiiiiiiirrrrr"...bleats Boobus.

Does it not occur to anybody outside our merry little band of refuseniks, to question just where the FUCK the FedCoats think they have the authority to "phase out" any consumer product that there is demand for???


Kind of makes you wonder if this is true if it wasn't a plus with them.
 
On a more serious note, does anyone know if this problem is unique to the newer CFLs, or is this a problem with conventional tube-like fluorescents? We've been sitting and working under those things in offices and factories for generations.
 
This is the real eco-benefit of this technology - it kills people! Hahahahahahaha!
 
On a more serious note, does anyone know if this problem is unique to the newer CFLs, or is this a problem with conventional tube-like fluorescents? We've been sitting and working under those things in offices and factories for generations.

Without having looked at the technical differences between the two, I'm going to go out on limb here and say it is confined to the newer ones, that have to, by definition, be "compact".

I'm guessing that the changes in the actual spiral fluorescent tube and "starting" characteristics make these more likely to emit UV radiation if their shielding is compromised.
 
And, it could be lobbyists paid money to have them pass the bill. Environmentalism as an excuse to create a monopoly.
 
Oh God, how I hate what we have become...



"I don't think that's faiiiiiiirrrrr"...bleats Boobus.

Does it not occur to anybody outside our merry little band of refuseniks, to question just where the FUCK the FedCoats think they have the authority to "phase out" any consumer product that there is demand for???
Refusenik is such a great word. :) If you ever want the same word with a different "flavor", try "refusnichik". Or "refusnichka" for females.
 
Incadescent lights also emit ultraviolet radiation. Your best source for UVA.
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/19395458
Abstract


Patients with photosensitive dermatologic and systemic diseases often question the ultraviolet light (UVL) output of household lighting sources. Such individuals have increasing concern about potential UVL exposure from energy-efficient compact fluorescent lamps (CFL), as little data have been presented concerning their UVL output. The objective was to compare, via pilot study, the levels of ultraviolet A (UVA) and ultraviolet B (UVB) leak between residential lighting sources. Equivalent wattage CFL, incandescent and halogen bulbs were purchased from local retailers in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma, USA. The UVA and UVB outputs of these sources were measured under controlled conditions at 10, 25, 50, 100 and 150 cm away from the light source using an IL-1700 research radiometer equipped with UVA and UVB detectors. Negligible UVB and UVA was detected at 100 and 150 cm. Therefore, data were analysed from measurements at 10, 25 and 50 cm only. The results demonstrated UVA leak highest from incandescent and halogen bulbs, and UVB leak highest from CFL. The overall UVA/UVB leak was lowest from CFL shielded during the manufacturing process. In conclusion, patients with photosensitivity have choices depending on their relative risk from different UVL wavelength spectra. UVB exposure risk may be reduced the greatest by utilising CFL with manufacturer-provided shields.

But it also points out that levels were very low unless you were very close to the light source. At 100 cm it was negligable from any of the lights tested. 100 cm would be about three feet.
 
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I've been a fan of newer bulb technologies, if you understand their benefits and negatives. In southern climates, people are heating their homes and offices with hot burning light bulbs and then cooling them back off with A/C! I haven't been watching the LED advancements lately, but I'm looking forward to finding an affordable 60-Watt replacement with good light and color output, which I'm sure they will get eventually if they haven't already. I just hate to see you guys reject the newer technologies because the government chose to get involved.
 
I've been a fan of newer bulb technologies, if you understand their benefits and negatives. In southern climates, people are heating their homes and offices with hot burning light bulbs and then cooling them back off with A/C! I haven't been watching the LED advancements lately, but I'm looking forward to finding an affordable 60-Watt replacement with good light and color output, which I'm sure they will get eventually if they haven't already. I just hate to see you guys reject the newer technologies because the government chose to get involved.

You admit that, up north and most everywhere this time of year, there's no particular reason to switch, that they have negatives, that their color output sucks, and you fail to admit that they're overpriced, they're full of poison, and they're dangerous. But you think we shouldn't be unhappy with them and we shouldn't be unhappy that the government shoved them down our throats in spite of their many obvious disadvantages.

Well, sorry. They suck and the government's arrogant attitude that we need them shoved down our throats sucks. There's just no denying it.

Oh, and you really ought not listen to liberal talking points. They generally make you look like an idiot. To wit: Offices generally use fluorescent, and have for more than half a century (and not CFL but six foot tubes), and southern homes generally use open curtains for light rather than bulbs during the heat of the afternoon when air conditioners work the hardest.
 
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Sometimes I wonder why the world isn't completely fucked up with the stuff we do to our health and the environment we create that degrades our health and gives us all cancer, brain damage, diabetes, you name it. How long till we all look like hobgoblins?
 
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