I am allergic to the sun. Just a few moments of exposure to sunlight causes me severe blistering and excruciating itching. I must wear gloves and sun block any time I am outdoors.
With this ban on normal light bulbs, I will be forced to live in the dark or risk using candles in my small apartment. I will not be able to live a normal life. My days will have to end in the late afternoon and I will have to sit alone in the dark until I fall asleep. There will be no evening activities for me. This Canadian law will cripple me.
Phyllis Carter
Blue/ultraviolet sensitivity
The issue of blue or blue/ultraviolet sensitivity has been raised with respect to CFLs and other fluorescent lights at higher color temperatures (e.g., >4500°K).[14] This effect can be compounded with sensitivity to pupillary flicker.
Ultraviolet radiation risk
Some fluorescent lamps emit ultraviolet radiation that in some circumstances can exceed safe levels. The Health Protection Agency of the United Kingdom has conducted research that concluded exposure to some compact fluorescent lamps (CFLs) for 1 hour per day at a distance of less than 30 cm can exceed safe levels. Touching the exposed bulb results in equivalent exposure to ultraviolet radiation as that of being in direct sunlight.[15]
In 2009, Natural Resources Canada released a report[16] describing the UV exposure due to lamps of several types. The report states that at 3 cm distance, the recommended daily exposure to ultraviolet radiation for skin and eye damage was attained between 50 minutes and 5 hours depending on the type of lamp; the report observes that such a close distance is unlikely in actual use. The report states that most bare spiral lamps tested gave off more UV than the 60 watt incandescent lamp tested, but that the double-envelope CFLs emitted less UV. At 30 cm distance, the recommended maximum daily exposure was attained between 3 hours and 6 hours, with little difference between the studied 60 Watt incandescent lamp and any bare-spiral CFL. The report states that the threshold limit values used represent otherwise healthy individuals who are not experiencing any hypersensitivity conditions or exposed to substances that increase UV sensitivity. Outdoor sunlight can supply the maximum recommended daily UV exposure in 20 to 100 minutes.
SCENIHR study and report
The Scientific Committee on Emerging and Newly Identified Health Risks (SCENIHR) in 2008 reviewed[17] the connections between artificial light and numerous human diseases, including:
- Ultraviolet radiation emitted by fluorescent lighting can increase an individual's exposure to carcinogenic radiation by 10 to 30 per cent per year, with an associated increased probability of contracting squamous cell carcinoma by 4 percent.
- Melanoma has been shown to not be affected by CFLs through normal use.
- The constituent blue light of CFLs can aggravate retinal diseases in susceptible people, but it is unlikely to occur.
- The report states that "people with Autism/Asperger's syndrome have reported problems which they attributed to fluorescent lighting and any deleterious effects on sufferers of autism or Asperger Syndrome from CFLs cannot be dismissed.
- The inner-ear condition Ménière's disease can be aggravated by flicker. Sufferers of vertigo are recommended to not use fluorescent lights.
- Polymorphous light eruption is a condition affecting the skin thought to be caused by an adverse reaction to ultraviolet light. Its prevalence across Europe is 10-20% of the population Artificial light sources may provoke the condition, and CFLs have been shown to produce an eruption.
- Chronic actinic dermatitis is a condition where a subject's skin becomes inflamed due to a reaction to sunlight or artificial light. Its prevalence in Scotland is 16.5 per 100,000 population. There is evidence that CFLs worsen the condition.
- The autoimmune disease lupus is exacerbated by CFLs.
- There is evidence that actinic prurigo is worsened by CFLs . This disease affects 3.3% of the general population.
- 3.1% of the population suffer solar urticaria, a skin disorder affected by ultraviolet light. Some patients are directly affected by CFLs.
- Phytophotodermatitis may be aggravated by the additional levels of ultraviolet light emitted by CFLs.
- Patients undergoing photodynamic therapy are at additional risk of adverse photosensitive reactions caused by CFLs.
- Self-reporting suggests that 21% of chronic fatigue syndrome patients experience sensitivity to light but there have been no studies into the association between chronic fatigue syndrome and CFLs.
- One cause of cataracts is exposure to ultraviolet light. Provided the level of UV emission from lamps is within safe limits, and the lamp a sufficient distance away from the individual, there should be no increased risk of developing cataracts.
- Photophobia is a symptom of excessive sensitivity to light which affects 5 to 20% of the population. No studies have been conducted into the effect of CFLs on sufferers of photophobia but there is the possibility for CFLs to affect sufferers.
- There is evidence that flicker can cause seizures in patients with photosensitive epilepsy, but there has yet to be any evidence to date attributing seizures to compact fluorescent lamps.
- Self-reporting suggests fluorescent lamps aggravate dyslexia, but tests show that dyslexic patients are unable to detect flicker emanating from light sources. This opinion was updated by SCENIHR in 2012, with no significant changes from the opinion of 2008.[18]
Electromagnetic radiation risks
The World Health Organization's IARC categorizes ELF and radiofrequency exposure as class 2B possibly carcinogenic.[19] The electronic ballasts in fluorescent lights emit low and very low frequency radiation (1–100 kHz) with steep pulses and harmonics,[20] and some fluorescent bulbs emit relatively high electric field strengths,[21] although the effects of these can be reduced significantly by maintaining an appropriate distance from them.[22] These fields can induce relatively high fields in humans standing or sitting close to them.[23] Electric fields of this intensity have been associated with biological effects.[24]
The Seletun international scientific panel has called for all new CFLs to be fitted with filters,[25] since studies also show that CFLs conduct voltage transients and harmonics ("dirty electricity") onto the wiring and that these can have biological effects, especially as regards diabetes[26] and cancers.[27]
Mercury
Fluorescent bulbs use mercury. This is toxic if the bulb is broken. A broken bulb will mildly contaminate the local air (so the room should be ventilated) and the glass fragments are toxic. The United States Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) provide safety guidelines for how to clear up a broken fluorescent bulb. Mercury is particularly harmful to children and unborn babies, and so children and pregnant women should avoid being in the area whilst a bulb is cleared up.
Bulbs which have reached the end of their life should not be disposed of in normal trash, as this will release the mercury. Several countries have specialised recycling or disposal systems for fluorescent bulbs, e.g. US bulb recycling.
The U.S. EPA has stated that the amount of mercury in a compact fluorescent lightbulb (CFL) is less than the extra mercury that would be released by the U.S. average mix of power plants to provide the energy used by an equivalent incandescent bulb.[28][not in citation given].
Other conditions associated with fluorescent light
In rare cases individuals with solar urticaria (allergy to sunlight) can get a rash from fluorescent lighting.[29] Very photosensitive individuals with Systemic lupus erythematosus may experience disease activity under artificial light. Standard acrylic diffusers over the fluorescent lamps absorb nearly all the UV-B radiation and appear to protect against this.[30]
One paper suggested that in rare cases, fluorescent lighting can also induce depersonalization and derealization, subsequently, it can worsen depersonalization disorder symptomology.[31]
The charity Migraine Action reported concerns from members that CFL bulbs can cause migraines,[32] and there are many anecdotal reports of such occurrences.[32][33][34]
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