Energy Saving Light Bulb Headache?
With the EU gearing up towards a ban on ordinary light bulbs in favour of energy saving ones, there is more controversy over the new light bulbs with some experts claiming they can causes migraines.
Health experts and charities alike have said they have been inundated with complaints that the fluorescent bulbs are causing headaches and some have called for Governments to allow an opt-out scheme for people who experience health problems.
Other ailments that people have complained about include dizziness, loss of focus and feelings of discomfort in those who suffer from epilepsy. People with lupus have also reported that fluorescent bulbs can cause them a raft of symptoms including severe pain.
Energy saving light bulbs are small versions of fluorescent strip lights which are commonly seen in offices and kitchens. They tend to be the size of conventional light bulbs however they use just a quarter of the energy. They tend to cost around five times more than a standard light bulb however because they use less energy and reportedly have longer life spans, they pay for themselves and should work out cheaper in the long run.
Critics of the light bulbs say that the technology is not up to scratch and that improvements need to be made before a ban on traditional light bulbs is enforced. Many people complain that the light from energy saving light bulbs is ‘cold’ or ‘green’. Energy saving light bulbs also take a while to warm up properly and because they are fluorescent, they flicker. Some are also not suitable in houses with dimmer switches.
The Lighting Association have denied that energy saving bulbs flicker claiming that they give constant, flicker-free, nonstroboscopic light. They did however say that some people had reactions to cheap, poor quality bulbs which was ‘old technology’.
It’s not the first time that energy saving light bulbs have come under fire – there are still some concerns over the disposal of energy saving light bulbs which contain mercury. Should any of the mercury filled bulbs make their way into landfill, they may contaminate the land.
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peterdub | Sep 6, 2009 | Reply
About mercury you mention…
A. Mercury as a health problem
Sometimes ridiculed, stringent EPA recommendations of what to do when a bulb breaks was more than confirmed by recent Maine state testing
See http://www.ceolas.net/#li191x
B. CFL mercury compared to coal power mercury emissions
CFL mercury is a bigger problem than coal power mercury emissions
The often repeated argument that emissions are worse, was only ever true where untreated coal power use dominated.
In the USA like the EU and Canada,
vigorous mercury emission control programs are in place
(using new injection and photochemical techniques as well as so-called wet scrubbers)
= USA EPA for example overseeing
90% reduction by 2018, as confirmed by new EPA administrator Lisa Jackson early 2009.
More: http://www.ceolas.net/#li198x
In a nutshell:
1. We know where the ever decreasing local coal power stations chimneys are and we can treat their emissions with ever increasing efficiency at lower costs.
2. Compare that with billions of scattered broken lights on dump sites, when we do not know where the broken lights will be, and so we can’t do anything about them
CFL refund chemes would alleviate but not solve the problem, as shown by low European compliancy…
John James | May 13, 2010 | Reply
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