[khelus]

...Unanswered questions: What intensity of UV radiation is emitted by CFL? How does that intensity compare to conventional tube fluorescent lights? How does that intensity compare to a day at the beach?

Enquiring minds (at least, the ones who paid attention in science class) want to know.

And ... how do conventional tube fluorescent lights of the past made in the US compare to CLF's from China the land of quality fade where anti freeze finds its way into toothpaste and cough medicine and plastic bits find their way into infant formula and the ingredients for pet food.

[rarestia]

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.