Fluorescent lights and skin health
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Joined: 24 Apr 2006
Location: Dorset, UK
| Posted: Thu Feb 14, 2008 12:44 pm Post subject: Fluorescent lights and skin health | |||||
| I have done some research about how various lighting works and why fluorescent lights can cause problems. From my reading it appears that normal fluorescent bulbs emit a range of ultra violet light (both UVA and UVB) which is converted to emit visible light. However not all of the UVA/B gets converted and it is this unconverted UVA/B spectrum that causes problems for a whole variety of people.
Good overview of fluorescent lights http://www.naturalux.com/NaturaLux_Lighting_Filters_UVinfo.htm http://www.naturalux.com/NaturaLux_Lighting_Filters_Absorption.htm Good overview of the various wavelenghts (link provided by Dan) http://eosweb.larc.nasa.gov/EDDOCS/Wavelengths_for_Colors.html Studies that indicate how low level UV can affect health Abstract
Source http://www.blackwell-synergy.com/doi/abs/10.1111/j.1365-2133.1969.tb14011.x?cookieSet=1&journalCode=bjd Abstract
Source: http://www3.interscience.wiley.com/cgi-bin/abstract/112206539/ABSTRACT?CRETRY=1&SRETRY=0 Study published in the journal of American Journal of Epidemiology http://www.naturalux.com/AJEStudyMelanomaHighlighted.pdf Solutions I guess potentially the easiest solution would to substitute the fluorescent light with a suitable alternative such as a standard incandescent bulb as this does not appear to emit the UV wavelength (halogen light apparently do). Alternatively it appears that there are a number of solutions to blocking UV radiation from fluorescent lights ranging from the use of special filters placed over the light source or special fluorescent tubes such as: http://www.naturalux.com/NaturaLux_Lighting_Filters_Achieves.htm http://www.naturalux.com/NaturaLux_Lighting_Filters_Absorption.htm http://www.pegasusassociates.com/products/UVFilters/UVfilter.html It appears certain filters do a good job of blocking out these UV wavelengths. It is clear that an uncovered UV light is the worst option. The main problem so far has been finding a supplier of these sorts of filters/tubes in the UK. Other general information and resources Chart of wavelengths for comparison: http://www.naturalux.com/NaturaLux_Lighting_Filters_Comparison.htm http://www.naturalux.com/NaturaLux_Lighting_Filters_Problem.htm Blue Light-also found in fluorescent lights Dan from the rosacea support forum provided me with further help regarding blue/violet wavelenghts and so the following is information/links provided by him. Wavelengths can cause problems for porphyria "The peak light absorption range for porphyrins corresponds well to the wavelength of light (@400nm) known to trigger photosensitivity reactions in the skin of patients with EPP": http://www.blackwell-synergy.com/doi/pdf/10.1034/j.1600-0781.2002.180202.x?cookieSet=1 Article discussing PCT and the damaging effects of light in the Blue (400 nm) range: http://www.sma.org.sg/smj/4106/articles/4106cr3.pdf "The UV light is absorbed by the bulb's fluorescent coating, which re-radiates the energy at lower frequencies (longer wavelengths: two intense lines of 440nm and 546nm wavelength appear on commercial fluorescent tubes) (see stokes shift) to emit visible light.": http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fluorescent_lighting Regards Sarah |
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Forum Moderator
Joined: 08 Jan 2007
Location: new york
| Posted: Fri Feb 15, 2008 2:35 am Post subject: | |
| Sarah,
Thanks for putting this all together. This is very important info as this issue will be affecting many of us. Especially over the next few years as they phase out incandescent in favor of flourescent. The links you shared will be helpful to finding solutions that work for those of us that are photosensitive. Best wishes, Melissa |
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