Fluorescent lighting to save the world?
The British government has announced it is phasing out incandescent light bulbs by 2011 in favor of largely fluorescent energy saving tubes. While these tubes save 75% of the energy used by standard bulbs and thus greatly reduce the greenhouse gas effects of electricity usage this is not the only environmental or health issue to be considered.
These energy saving bulbs have long been used by businesses as a cost saving measure and have been linked with a range of health problems ranging from migraines and increased risk of epileptic seizures to the aggravation of eczema, dermatitis and other skin conditions There have also been reports linking fluorescent lighting with the auto immune disease lupus and chronic fatigue.
Mental problems including depression, sleep disorders and cravings have been linked with fluorescent lighting in prisons- not only among inmates but also support staff including doctors and chaplains. At the 1999 International Light Conference at Reading University in England, fluorescent lighting was linked with radiation leakage and possible depletion of mood elevating brain chemicals serotonin and melatonin. This can lead to depression of severity enough to trigger suicide attempts.
Fluorescent tubes also contain mercury. If not properly recycled and isolated mercury poses a significant health risk to all humans and animals who come into contact with it. The average tube contains 20 milligrams of mercury and the US Environmental Protection Agency estimates that the yearly production of fluorescent lamps contains enough mercury to contaminate 20 million acres of water . Mercury concentrates in animal tissues, passes up the food chain and is one of the most toxic substances known. Even breathing mercury vapors can cause neurological damage and symptoms ranging from loss of coordination to vision and speech impairment.
The Migraine Action Association and other pressure groups in the UK are lobbying the government to provide other alternatives. Maybe this form of lighting should be phased out for the good of our planet and our own health.
Paul Harper
Filed under: global warming, environment, city living, greenhouse gasses, carbon footprint, fluorescent lighting, mercury, food chain, epileptic seizures, migraines, eczema, dermatitis, depression, Environmental Protection Agency, greenhouse gas on February 26th, 2008
When I was recently in the States, there was a big push to get people to switch to energy-saving bulbs. It sounded good to me until I saw that at an eco-fair where they were passing out free samples, they were also giving away flyers explaining how to dispose of old bulbs because of the mercury. Before hopping on the energy-saving bandwagon, people should really consider the health consequences…