The flickering of fluorescent bulbs is a known migraine trigger. Compact fluorescent bulbs have made great strides in reducing the flickering that is common in this class of light bulbs. Despite this, many individuals are finding that compact fluorescent bulbs cause migraine headaches. Migraine is not just a headache. Migraine disease is a neurological condition that not only causes pain but can impact motor function, sensory function, vision, memory, and speech. The Migraine Action Committee in the UK has growing concerns about the effects of compact fluorescent light bulbs on migraine.
Compact fluorescent bulbs and Lupus
Compact fluorescent bulbs can produce more ultraviolet light and have a different light spectrum than incandescent bulbs. This makes compact fluorescent bulbs problematic for people with Lupus or other light sensitive skin conditions.
Compact fluorescent bulbs and Photosensitive Epilepsy
One of the forms of epilepsy is triggered by light. Standard flourescents often cause seisures in these individuals.
Compact fluorescent bulbs and Ménière's Disease
One of the symptoms of Ménière's is flicker vertigo. Flicker vertigo may arise from flicker rates in the range of 4-30Hz or 4 to 30 times per second. Symptoms range from vague and non-specific feelings of unease through to nausea, dizziness, migraines, unconsciousness, and even photosensitive epileptic seizures. The flicker of CFLs is faster than the rate than typically induces flicker vertigo.
Ultra violet light emissions from compact fluorescent bulbs
Ultra violet light is responsible for skin cancer. It can also be a problem for individuals with ultra violet sensitive conditions such as Lupus.
Mercury is a powerful neurotoxin that can cause serious damage to the all the tissues and organs in the body as well as the central nervous system and endocrine system and it disrupts functioning of crucial neurotransmitters in the brain. It is one of the most toxic substances on the planet and has been linked to a variety of serious health conditions like autism, memory problems, infertility, depression, thyroid disorders, Alzheimer’s, adrenal disorders, anxiety, Parkinson’s and MS to name a few. It is especially toxic to children, pregnant women and small pets. While the mercury is contained in the light bulb there is no risk, however if you drop the bulb on the floor of your home, then you are exposed to dangerous mercury vapors.
Spectral distributions by CFL:
• Natural daylight provides the only true full spectrum lighting. Incandescent light is closer in spectral distribution to natural daylight; fluorescent light is far different which accounts for its negative effects on the human body. There are thousands, of well documented scientific photo biological studies indicating the negative effects of fluorescent lighting.
• The effects of different light sources on the body have been researched at a long list of prestigious institutions including MIT, and Harvard University. The latest research is being done on how different colors of light (spectral distributions) affect the body’s circadian rhythms. Researchers used to think of the eye as the main organ for vision but because of the recent discovery of additional nerve connections, it is now understood that light mediates and controls a number of biochemical processes in the human body, including the production of important hormones through control of the light/dark cycle (circadian rhythms) – the body’s biological clock.
• Fluorescent light gives off a very much distorted spectrum which is very different from the natural daylight in which our bodies have evolved. Fluorescent light disrupts our circadian rhythms – our body’s regulator mechanism – and in doing so studies have shown negative health effects from minor annoyances such as headaches, eyestrain, fatigue, and weight gain, to serious effects such as insomnia and sleep disturbances, an increased risk of cancer, and a suppressed immune system.
Required Vigilant Awareness while using of CFL:
Although CFLs are considered safe to use, here are some steps you can take to further protect you and your family:
• Always handle CFLs carefully when installing and removing them.
• Buy CFLs that are marked low UV.
• Buy CFLs that have a glass cover already added, which will help further filter out UV radiation.
• Use additional glass, plastic or fabric materials in your lighting fixtures to act as UV filters.
• Increase the distance you are from the CFL, as this will reduce the level of UV exposure.
• All ENERGY STAR® qualified CFLs have less than 5 milligrams of mercury (some manufacturers are able to produce CFLs that have only about 1 milligram of mercury). Avoid purchasing non-ENERGY STAR® CFLs, as they may have much higher levels of mercury in them.
• As of September 2008, all ENERGY STAR® qualified CFLs are required to list their mercury content on the packaging. This information is not required on non-ENERGY STAR® CFL packaging.
• A CFL is a sealed unit, and no mercury is released when it is in use or as long as it is intact. Some mercury is released when a bulb breaks, and appropriate clean-up guidance should be followed.
• If the bulb breaks, make sure to clean it up properly. Also, check your local regulations to make sure that you won’t break any laws while disposing of the bulb.
• Look for recycling programs online, through local stores, or through the light bulb manufacturers. Make an informed choice. If CFLs concern you or if you have health problems do to them, switch to a LED or incandescent bulb
Conclusion:
• If we can afford the discomfort of higher electrical bills, it is OK to go back to incandescent. The Earth will be fine, it just goes through cyclical warming and cooling’s, and we humans might not have as much impact on it as we give ourselves credit for. The heat generated by incandescent is not always wasted either. In colder months the heat reduces the amount of energy drawn from household heating. In the next some year the prices of LED lighting will start to come down, and new LED lighting fixtures will be introduced. The CFLs will begin to be phased out, leaving behind a long term problem of mercury disposal, remediation, and a so far untold toll on human health.
• Instead of promoting compact fluorescent light bulbs governments around the world should be insisting that manufactures produces light bulbs that are electromagnetically clean and contain no toxic chemicals. Some of these are available (LED) but are not yet affordable. With a growing number of people developing electro hypersensitivity we have a serious emerging and newly identified health risk that is likely to get worse until regulations restricting our exposure to electromagnetic pollutants are enforced. Also, with improper disposal of these bulbs we are creating a mercury-time bomb. Since everyone uses light bulbs and since the energy inefficient incandescent light bulbs are being phased out in many countries by this is an area that requires immediate attention. “Try a CFL, but use and dispose it very carefully”
Guidelines for Cleaning Up Broken CFL Bulbs
Suggestions will vary depending on the source, but here are the most common.
• remove children, pregnant women and pets immediately
(they should not participate in or be present during the clean up process)
• ventilate the area well
• open a window and leave the room for at least 15 minutes
• wear gloves, a mask and safety glasses
• do not use a sweeper or a broom to clean it up
• do not turn on your heating or air conditioning system
• pick up big pieces with your fingers
• use sticky tape to get small pieces
• wipe the area with a wet rag
• place all broken materials collected as well as all materials used in the clean up process in a second sealed plastic bag (air tight) or a screw-top glass jar and remove them from the house.
• throw everything away that was used in the clean up process, including the rag and gloves.
• if the break occurs on a carpet, cut that piece of that carpet out and throw it away.
• wash your hands immediately
• call your local recycling center to see if they collect CFL bulbs, otherwise put it in the trash.
• as a preventative measure, it is suggested that compact fluorescent light bulbs should never be used in areas where there is carpeting or in sockets where a breakage is more likely to occur.
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