The newer ecology light bulbs are being touted as a real way to conserve energy in homes by a new report from the U.K. may indicate that use of these bulbs could pose a health risk top certain quarters of the work-force, suggesting that what may be good for the environment isn’t always good for humans.
The report limits itself to those bulb that use a visible coil and emit ultraviolet radiation. This type of radiation, if getting too near exposed human or animal skin (under 11 inches) for more than an hour at a time, the bulbs could turn the skin reddish and might cause tissue damage. Those most in danger of being affected would be persons whose jobs required them to place their hands and arms under devices using these types of bulbs for extended periods of time, particuarly jewelers, lab technicians and other scientific workers. The U.K. Health Agency suggested those in these categories should switch to an encapsulated-style energy-saving light bulb.
“We are not saying these could cause cancer,” said the agency’s CEO Justin McCracken. “This is precautionary advice and people should not be thinking of removing these energy-saving light bulbs from their homes. At the exposure levels we are talking about the worst effect that we believe there is as result of our investigation is that people could have some short-time reddening of their skin.”
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In otherwords, as you wouldn’t sit on top of a microwave oven for an hour while it’s running, or picnic every day under power lines, you shouldn’t expose yourself for prolonged periods to these bulbs. Guess what? ALL electrical devices give off some kind of radiation or radio waves that penetrate thru your body. I guess we should just chuck everything and live naked in a log cabin in the woods, provided that the logs used to build this cabin weren’t treated with yet another carcinogenic chemical known to cause cancer. Hmm, caves are sounding better and better these days.
These “eco-bulbs” are hazards to the ecology. Yes, they do use less power when they after left on for more than several minutes in comparison to the regular bulbs; do not used for momentary application ie closets, washrooms (unless you are people that spend hours in the tub)…etc. Flourescent lighting takes several minutes to “warm” up before they are efficient. Short time usage would be more wasteful.
But the impact to the ecology is in the manufacturing of these bulbs. True its made in China, still this is a small world. However the biggest impact is in the disposal. Flourescent lights, the tubes and these eco-bulbs can not be thrown with the regular garbage. They must be dispose as toxic waste. Each device contains a drop of mercury. And at least in my area, they are treated that way. It is important if anyone drop one of these bulb and smash, to be extra cautous, it is dangerous (mercury vapors).