--S-A-- ScotlandOn Sunday: Health Warning Over Greener Bulbs

[Guest guest]

Replacing incandescent bulbs with fluorescent? I thought Fluorescent bulbs were

being phased out because they contain dangerous levels of mercury.

Betsy

 

 

" Misty L. Trepke " <mistytrepke wrote:

Comments?

Misty L. Trepke

http://health.

 

Health warning over planned changeover to greener bulbs

http://scotlandonsunday.scotsman.com/latestnews/Health-warning-over-

planned-changeover.3644526.jp

 

by Marc Horne

THE UK Government's planned switchover from traditional lightbulbs

to low-energy lighting could cause health problems for tens of

thousands of people, experts have warned.

 

The process of phasing out the conventional pear-

shaped 'incandescent' bulbs and replacing them with more energy-

efficient fluorescent models begins this month and is due to be

completed by 2011 as part of the UK's efforts to reduce its

greenhouse gas emissions.

 

But Professor John Hawk, dermatology spokesman for the British Skin

Foundation, warned that the new bulbs will cause problems for people

with light-sensitive skin.

 

Hawk told BBC Radio 4's Today programme: " Fluorescent lights seem to

have some sort of ionising characteristic, where they affect the air

around them. This does affect a certain number of people, probably

tens of thousands of people in Britain. Certain forms of eczema, for

example, flare up anywhere near fluorescent lights.

 

" I strongly suggest that incandescent bulbs remain available for use

in the home. "

 

Keven Verdun, chief executive of the Lighting Association, insisted

that the needs of people with medical conditions were being taken

into account during the switchover.

 

The full article contains 191 words and appears in Scotland On

Sunday newspaper.Last Updated: 05 January 2008 9:03 PM