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| Energy-efficient compact fluorescent lights have some health risks. |
Energy-efficient
compact fluorescent light bulbs, or CFLs, are a popular choice for homeowners
and businesses looking for ways to reduce their electricity bills. But
researchers at Stony Brook University in New York have discovered CFLs have a
darker side, too: The lamps emit surprisingly high levels of ultraviolet (UV)
radiation, which can damage skin cells and, at high exposure levels, cause
cancer, according to CBS Miami.
To
test the safety of the light bulbs, researchers exposed healthy human skin
cells to light from the CFLs, and compared that to the effect that older-style
incandescent light bulbs had on the same skin cells. Their analysis showed that
skin cells exposed to the CFLs experienced significant damage. "The
results were that you could actually initiate cell death," Marcia Simon,
professor of dermatology at Stony Brook University, told CBS Miami. (Skin cells
exposed to the incandescent bulbs suffered no significant damage.)
Researchers
also believe they know the cause of the UV damage: tiny cracks in the coating
inside the CFL bulbs allowed UV radiation to leak out, CBS Miami reports. CFL
manufacturers refute the Stony Brook researchers' finding, issuing a statement
claiming that "the levels of UV radiation emitted are acceptably
low," and the light bulbs are safe for normal use, according to CBS Miami.
CFL light bulbs also contain small amounts of mercury, a toxic element that's
been linked to nerve damage, birth defects and other health risks. So despite
their energy-efficiency, CFL lamps' green credentials are in question, making long
lasting, energy-saving LED lights a brighter option for many consumers.
Source: Live Science
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