When I am in a room with fluorescent light, my eyes turn red and burn, the tears start, and I have to leave.
Guess it is some kind of allergy - but I don't have to look under a lamp-shade. My eyes tell me immediately.
Over 30 years ago me and my buddy took a shortcut to the store behind some businesses and we found about 40 real long fluorescent bulbs in a dumpster and we broke every one of them throwing them like spears against a brick wall. As they shattered against the wall they appeared to be going right through.
We had no idea we were ruining the planet but we sure had fun doing it.