Energy efficient bulbs could cause health problems

British doctors claim that energy efficient bulbs could be unhealthy. They are battling against the energy efficient bulbs, because they contain mercury and they radiate UV-rays.

The European Union is planning to ban all normal bulbs by 2012, forcing the consumer to buy energy saving bulbs. The British doctors are very unhappy about that.

The doctors, united in the Right to Light and Spectrum Alliance groups, are arguing the case to still allow normal bulbs in certain situations. For people with skin allergies, for example. Those people could get problems from the UV radiation that energy efficient bulbs emit.

Furthermore some studies have shown that energy saving bulbs can increase the risk for skin cancer. An extra glass cover around an energy efficient bulb could absorb a lot of the UV radiation, but this is hardly know by the consumer.

The British doctors are also against energy efficient bulbs, because they contain mercury. Although they only contain small quantities and the mercury is only released if the bulb breaks, it can have big consequences.

When a bulb breaks, they room should be cleared and aired for 15 minutes. But even then the concentrations of mercury can still be very high for several weeks. Carpets, curtains and other fabrics can absorb mercury and emit poisonous fumes for some time.

There is also the problem of electromagnetic radiation that is caused by energy saving bulbs. The radiation is still quite high at even one meter distance.

A better alternative could be the LED based light bulb.

Popularity: 18% [?]

---

Related Posts:

Coffee as sunscreen
Salt crystals good for infectious skin disease
Loneliness makes sick
Tips for getting a healthy dose of sleep
Chocolate is good against wrinkles
Vitamin D protects against colon cancer
Sunlight helps with cancer prevention