bob800
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Energy saving light bulbs "contain cancer causing chemicals"
http://www.telegraph.co.uk/health/8462626/Energy-saving-ligh...
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Energy saving light bulbs 'contain cancer causing chemicals'
Fears have been reignited about the safety of energy saving light bulbs after a group of scientists warned that they contain cancer causing chemicals.
Their report advises that the bulbs should not be left on for extended periods, particularly near someone’s head, as they emit poisonous materials
when switched on.
Peter Braun, who carried out the tests at the Berlin's Alab Laboratory, said: “For such carcinogenic substances it is important they are kept as far
away as possible from the human environment.”
The bulbs are already widely used in the UK following EU direction to phase out traditional incandescent lighting by the end of this year.
But the German scientists claimed that several carcinogenic chemicals and toxins were released when the environmentally-friendly compact fluorescent
lamps (CFLs) were switched on, including phenol, naphthalene and styrene.
Andreas Kirchner, of the Federation of German Engineers, said: “Electrical smog develops around these lamps.
“I, therefore, use them only very economically. They should not be used in unventilated areas and definitely not in the proximity of the head.”
British experts insisted that more research was needed and urged consumers not to panic.
Dr Michelle Bloor, senior lecturer in Environmental Science at Portsmouth University, told the Daily Express: “Further independent studies would
need to be undertaken to back up the presented German research.”
The Department for the Environment insists the bulbs are safe, despite the fact that they contain small amounts of mercury which would leak out if the
glass was broken.
Advice on its website states: “Energy efficient light bulbs are not a danger to the public.
“Although they contain mercury, limited at 5mg per lamp, it cannot escape from a lamp that is intact.
“In any case, the very small amount contained in an energy efficient bulb is unlikely to cause harm even if the lamp should be broken.”
The latest report follows claims by Abraham Haim, a professor of biology at Haifa University in Israel, that the bulbs could result in higher breast
cancer rates if used late at night.
He said that the bluer light that CFLs emitted closely mimicked daylight, disrupting the body's production of the hormone melatonin more than
older-style filament bulbs, which cast a yellower light.
The Migraine Action Association has warned that they could trigger migraines and skin care specialists have claimed that their intense light could
exacerbate a range of existing skin problems.
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unionised
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"Energy saving light bulbs contain cancer causing chemicals"
So does a hamburger, and the important difference is that I don't eat light bulbs.
I just wonder what you were hoping to achieve by posting that?
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Morgan
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What gets me is that my county didn't allow the long fluorsescent bulbs to be thrown away in my garbage can. Yet how many of the little bulbs get
thrown away in landfills daily or get broken in people's houses or in new houses being built, traces of mercury being scattered about.
http://www.dswa.com/programs_CFL.asp
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unionised
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Since, according to that site, "DSWA operates a Household Hazardous Waste Collection Program free for all Delaware residents. " what are you
complaining about?
The simple fact is that there's a not much mercury in these bulbs. It's better to have it dealt with properly, but it's no great problem if it's not.
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condennnsa
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Incandescent bulbs give the best light in my opinion. By far.
I considered changing to energy light bulbs, but I hate the color, and I hate the fact that they overinflate on the label the amount of "light" it
puts out.
They proudly say 40 w of equivalent light, but when you replace them for 40w incandescent bulbs, it's clear that they put out a lot less light than
they claim.
i also like collecting the W filaments of burnt bulbs  as W source for whatnot
I'll just have to stock up with the old bulbs while they're still available.
[Edited on 18-6-2011 by condennnsa]
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bob800
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Quote: Originally posted by unionised  | "Energy saving light bulbs contain cancer causing chemicals"
So does a hamburger, and the important difference is that I don't eat light bulbs.
I just wonder what you were hoping to achieve by posting that? |
I never said I agreed with it, I was just curious to hear some thoughts on it. Since energy saving light bulbs are becoming the norm, I thought it may
be an interesting discussion topic. Maybe I was wrong.
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unionised
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Much as I like CFL for their efficiency, I have to agree with condennnsa that they are generally mis-described in terms of light output.
Having said that, the rules here in the UK have been changed; they now have to say what the actual light output (in lumens) is.
I'm still waiting for LED lamps to fulfil their promise of high efficiency instant light with any colour balance you like .
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LanthanumK
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For 23 watts, a fluorescent bulb puts out quite a lot of light, around the 75 watt incandescent area. That is just how they were labeled.
hibernating...
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Xenomorph
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Reminds me this one
[Edited on 19-6-2011 by Xenomorph]
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