However, some of the advances that have come about as a result of the green movement have unintended negative effects. This includes energy-efficient light bulbs.
Scientists have discovered a dark side of energy-efficient compact florescent light bulbs (CFL) in the area of health. While they save energy and money, a recent study at the State University of New York at Stony Brook found small defects in the bulbs emit UV light that can harm skin cells and lead to cancer.
Researchers found each CFL bulb emitted significant levels of radiation.
In the study published in the journal Photochemistry and Photobiology, researchers measured the amount of UV radiation emitted from a number of CFL light bulbs and found significant levels came from every one. The amount of radiation correlated with the wattage: the higher the wattage, the higher the radiation observed.
Next, the researchers exposed healthy human skin cells to light from the CFL bulbs. They found the response of the cells to radiation from these bulbs was identical to the response of the cells to radiation from the sun–a greater production of cancer-causing free radicals. Damage to the cells occurred in as little as 30 minutes or as much as 12 hours, depending on the proximity of the light to the cells.
Why are these bulbs such a problem?
Lead author, Miriam Rafailovich, PhD, explains the problem stems from the way the bulbs are made. All florescent light bulbs contain mercury vapor, which produces many UV rays when activated by an electric current. Normally, these harmful rays are absorbed by a layer of coating inside the bulbs, thus making the light safe. The difficulty arises when this coating cracks, permitting the escape of the UV rays.
The researchers noted these cracks or defects were common in the CFL bulbs, and they attributed their prevalence to the manufacturing process, which twists the bulbs into their spiral shape. Herein lies the problem, as the coating is brittle and tends to crack when shaped into a curve: Rafailovich notes.
What about the safety of tube-shaped florescent light bulbs and incandescent light bulbs? Rafailovich states the tube-shaped ones do not emit as much radiation because they do not need to be twisted. Incandescent bulbs use a different technology that doesn’t emit the same type of radiation.
What can you do to protect yourself?
Researchers say it is not very difficult to avoid these harmful rays.
Keep your distance. Refailovich recommends keeping desk lamps at least one foot away from you. The overhead lights are far enough away to prevent them from being a major problem.
Additionally, she advises using glass lampshades instead of plastic or cloth to reduce UV ray penetration.
Open blinds and drapes to allow in as much natural light as possible.
WHY WE’VE CHOSEN THE ENERGY EFFICIENT LIGHT BULB
If you are like many Americans, you’ve replaced one or more of the light bulbs in your home with energy-efficient light bulbs. These light bulbs are shaped differently than traditional light bulbs, so they use considerably less energy.In addition to minimizing your energy costs, these light bulbs require less frequent changing, so that is one task that you can cross off of your list.
Energy-efficient bulbs also tend to diffuse the light a bit more, preventing headaches caused by bright lights.It’s clear why energy-efficient light bulbs are popular, but should they be? Like many exciting advances in technology, there is a dark side to these bulbs and not just the darkness you are left in when they burn out!
THE DOWNSIDE OF ENERGY EFFICIENT BULBS
Recent research conducted on energy-efficient bulbs has discovered something surprising. Energy-efficient bulbs, thanks to their shape, can leak UV light. That’s the same UV light that can cause sunburn and skin cancer .The manufacturing process of these bulbs may be what is behind this issue.
The shape of the bulb can make the phosphor coating of the bulb crack. When this coating cracks, UV light slips through. In the most recent study, the majority of energy-efficient bulbs tested at stores did have some cracks in their coating.
HOW YOU SHOULD USE THIS INFORMATION
Don’t run out just yet and buy all standard light bulbs. Currently, this research is purely theoretical. That means that energy-efficient light bulbs have not been tied to any cases of sunburn or skin cancer. The amount of UV light emitted may be so low that you would need to sit directly next to the bulb for many hours to experience any ill side effects.
However, it is still wise to start looking into other options, as you never know when or if you’ll get a bad batch of bulbs that lets more UV light through. Even if there haven’t been any cases of lightbulb sunburn, you don’t want to be the one that becomes the case study.LED bulbs are a safe alternative to consider.
They last almost 10 times longer than standard light bulbs and they do not have any UV light, eradicating the risk that comes with energy-efficient bulbs.Furthermore, LED lighting mimics natural sunlight. This means that it may be helpful for people with depression or Seasonal Affective Disorder.
You work hard to make the best choices you can for your family and for the environment. Give LED bulbs a try and see how they affect your mood and improve your home’s lighting.
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