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Posted on 07/23/2012 9:28:46 AM PDT by Sub-Driver
Energy-efficient CFL bulbs cause skin damage, say researchers 8:52 AM 07/23/2012 ADVERTISEMENT
New research funded by the National Science Foundation has scientists warning consumers about the potentially harmful effects energy-saving CFL light bulbs can have on skin.
The warning comes based on a study conducted by Stony Brook University and New York State Stem Cell Science — published in the June issue of Photochemistry and Photobiology — which looked at whether and how the invisible UV rays CFL bulbs emit affect the skin.
Based on the research, scientists concluded that CFL light bulbs can be harmful to healthy skin cells.
“Our study revealed that the response of healthy skin cells to UV emitted from CFL bulbs is consistent with damage from ultraviolet radiation,” said lead researcher Miriam Rafailovich, Professor of Materials Science and Engineering at Stony Brook University, in New York, in a statement. “Skin cell damage was further enhanced when low dosages of TiO2 nanoparticles were introduced to the skin cells prior to exposure.”
According to Rafailovich, with or without TiO2 (a chemical found in sunblock), incandescent bulbs of the same light intensity had zero effects on healthy skin.
The scientists found that cracks in the CFL bulbs phosphor coatings yielded significant levels of UVC and UVA in all of the bulbs — purchased in different locations across two counties — they examined.
With high levels of ultraviolet radiation present, the researchers delved into how the exposure affected the skin. According to the findings, skin damage from exposure to CFLs was consistent with harm caused by ultraviolet radiation.
“Despite their large energy savings, consumers should be careful when using compact fluorescent light bulbs,” said Rafailovich. “Our research shows that it is best to avoid using them at close distances and that they are safest when placed behind an additional glass cover.”
The research was inspired by a similar 2008 European study conducted by the Scientific Committee on Emerging and Newly Identified Health Risks which found a potential for skin damage and suggested the use of double-enveloped bulbs as a mitigation tool.
CFLs have been the source of political rumblings since 2007 when Congress approved new energy standards that would have started to phase out the traditional incandescent light bulb in favor of the energy-efficient CFL bulb this year. In December, Congress offered a provision to prevent the Department of Energy from enforcing the standards for nine months. The regulation is still on the books.
The restriction on consumer choice has represented a political battle cry for Tea Partiers and conservatives alike who view the regulation as an infringement on individual liberty. Environmentalists and CFL proponents argue the bulbs are environmentally friendly and economically efficient
Okay, I stand corrected and apologize to Bustard for misreading his post.
Enjoy the rest of your day.
I like the LED bulbs, they don’t get as hot so my AC doesn;t have to work so hard against them...
No offense taken ...
These bad science articles really annoy me.
Then think of all the things he DID do that were detrimental to our country, especially in the Middle East.
And the TSA, Homeland Security, Patriot Act, and on and on and......
Hmmm ....
If you think that disposing of the Taliban and Saddam Hussein were bad, that's your business. I disagree.
As for the rest ...
Bush was often foolish.
Bam-Bam is evil.
I like the LED bulbs, they don’t get as hot so my AC doesn;t have to work so hard against them...
* * *
I am starting to like LED bulbs too. I have a couple of LED flashlights which my kids have NOT managed to break, unlike all the incandescent bulb flashlights before them.
(But CFLs still suck! ;o)
Yes. They all emit UV, so unless they have diffusers (e.g. an additional glass cover, as described in the article), they are doing a modest amount of damage. However, it is pretty negligible:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fluorescent_lamp#Ultraviolet_emission
The link from that section (http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/1343229) suggests that long-term exposure raises a person’s lifetime skin cancer risk by 3.9%.
I have an LED in the lamp beside my chair, very bright, and no heat, so when I fumble around to turn off the light, I don’t burn myself.
We have changed our family room flood lights to LED, put in a dimmer for them. Our hallway light is a natural light LED, extremely bright and white.
later
Most lamps have shades. Would glass really be necessary to shade from the UV radiation, or are shades enough?
I agree with you on that point as well, helus. There’s no QC in China nor when the products reach our shores. The design companies can blame the manufacturing process despite their poor QC.
[ I have an LED in the lamp beside my chair, very bright, and no heat, so when I fumble around to turn off the light, I don’t burn myself.
We have changed our family room flood lights to LED, put in a dimmer for them. Our hallway light is a natural light LED, extremely bright and white. ]
Where I live it gets cold, so I like the LED lights as a replacement for flood lights because the LEDs handle extreme cold temps far far better than CFLs or even regular light bulbs.
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Disposed of the Taliban? Really? Then who is killing so many young soldiers? And who will control the country when we leave? Just what in hell have we gained?
Disposed of Saddam Hussein...yup, we did. But just what US interests required that? What did we gain by 'nation building' at the cost of so much blood and treasure?
In hindsight, would you want to repeat either adventure?
My only experience with lamp shades came during spring break in college, and I can assure you that I had quite the sunburn despite wearing that lampshade for a majority of the day.
The hotel was not amused and that was reflected in the bill for incidentals when we checked out.
ROFL
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