PSA: If you're using CFLs, read this.

[Pulsar]

You don't have to get a sunburn, in order to have skin damage from ultra-violet light.

Can you please quantify the amount of UV light it takes to create melonoma, and compare it to the amount of UV light emitted by CFL's?

Or, better yet, simply give us the amount of UV radiation that is emitted?

You see, while those are really cute headlines, the article, that is a copy of another article, that is a copy of a third article, does not sight a single relevant figure from the paper.

The website that hosts the paper requires registration, but since you are making the claim, I assume you'll be providing the actual facts.

I've also heard that vaccinations cause autism.

 

[LTC8K6]

How is a halogen bulb 'energy efficient'?

It's efficient enough to meet the requirements.

They put out more light with less power than a regular incandescent, and so they are not banned at all.

You can get them in Reveal varieties as well if you like the natural light look.

Anyone who wants to stick to conventional bulbs should be fine with these halogens.

 

[disappoint]

...

Wow. What a non issue.

I know right? Because: journalists. Most journalists are trying to sell you a bunch of sensationalized B.S. Most scientists are trying to not BS you, even if they have a B.S. degree.

 

[rudeguy]

Can you please quantify the amount of UV light it takes to create melonoma, and compare it to the amount of UV light emitted by CFL's?

Or, better yet, simply give us the amount of UV radiation that is emitted?

You see, while those are really cute headlines, the article, that is a copy of another article, that is a copy of a third article, does not sight a single relevant figure from the paper.

The website that hosts the paper requires registration, but since you are making the claim, I assume you'll be providing the actual facts.

I've also heard that vaccinations cause autism.

 

[TXHokie]

The last study I recall about things that was bad for me was broccoli....yeah, the same broccoli that my parents made me eat. I've been putting all studies on IGNORE. Well except for that one that says squeezing boobs prevent cancer - that one intrigues me.

 

[Golgatha]

It's efficient enough to meet the requirements.

They put out more light with less power than a regular incandescent, and so they are not banned at all.

You can get them in Reveal varieties as well if you like the natural light look.

Anyone who wants to stick to conventional bulbs should be fine with these halogens.

They still don't dim worth a shit and they contain mercury. Not to mention a circuit board that is also very likely to end up in a landfill.

 

[JulesMaximus]

Good think lampshades are so cheap.

Just make sure you cover them in tinfoil. It blocks the UV rays and the government thought waves.

 

[LTC8K6]

They still don't dim worth a shit and they contain mercury. Not to mention a circuit board that is also very likely to end up in a landfill.

There's no mercury or circuit boards in a halogen bulb as far as I know. They are also dimmable.

Never heard anyone claim such before.

I think you are confused.

 

[LTC8K6]

http://images.lowes.com/product/converted/046135/046135525513.jpg

 

[ElFenix]

Good think lampshades are so cheap.

a CFL burned through one of my parents' lampshades.

 

[sixone]

I know right? Because: journalists. Most journalists are trying to sell you a bunch of sensationalized B.S. Most scientists are trying to not BS you, even if they have a B.S. degree.

Scientists have to BS the people who decide where grant money gets spent. This study would probably have received no funding, if the earlier study hadn't raised some concerns.

Blow it off, if you want. All I ask is that you make an informed decision.

 

[LTC8K6]

http://images.lowes.com/product/converted/046135/046135500053.jpg

Soft white, no mercury, dimmable, no circuit boards, USA made...

 

[sixone]

Incandescents are not banned.

That's why I used the phrase "tried to".

 

[zephyrprime]

Bit of a "meh" on the cell culture results, but the UV measurements were a little alarming. Another advantage to LEDs I guess...

Most white led's do the same thing. They produce UV and convert to visible light with phospurs. Since the LED is so much smaller though and the phosphurs are sealed in place with plastic rather than being coated onto glass, missed, cracks in the coverage are probably a lot less.

 

[disappoint]

Scientists have to BS the people who decide where grant money gets spent.

They don't have to BS people. They can if they want, but then they'd be more con artists than scientists.

It's like that song tainted love. Bit of an oxymoron. If it's tainted, is it still truly love? Isn't it ironic? Don't you think?

 

[Red Squirrel]

This is kinda scary, I have mostly all CFLs in my house. In fact there's a lamp right beside me and while the bulb is blocked by the glass diffuser, I doubt that blocks UV rays (or does it?). My skin has been getting worse over the years, it never ocured to me what could be the cause. Doctor said basically some people just get that more than others. He's pretty sure it's eczema, but I've also been told it might be Impetigo or Serilasys. (probably not spelling those right).

Or is this just an overhyped BS claim, like the mercury? Arn't CFLs the same as bigger flurescent tubes, but just smaller? What would make CFLs less safe than tubes?

 

[Schfifty Five]

This is kinda scary, I have mostly all CFLs in my house. In fact there's a lamp right beside me and while the bulb is blocked by the glass diffuser, I doubt that blocks UV rays (or does it?). My skin has been getting worse over the years, it never ocured to me what could be the cause. Doctor said basically some people just get that more than others. He's pretty sure it's eczema, but I've also been told it might be Impetigo or Serilasys. (probably not spelling those right).

Or is this just an overhyped BS claim, like the mercury? Arn't CFLs the same as bigger flurescent tubes, but just smaller? What would make CFLs less safe than tubes?

So you read one article that claims CFL's are harmful to you...an article that provides little to no data to support their claims, and you freak out and start believing it's the cause of your skin problems?

Not saying it can't be it, but do you immediately believe everything on the internet?

 

[Rubycon]

The bulb is glass which filters harmful UV-C radiation.
So called germicidal tubes will actually have envelopes made of quartz. These will pass the harmful shortwave UV-C radiation. There is sufficient UV-C to generate ozone as well with those.

A CFL with cracks in the phosphor? I would not worry about it!

Speaking of halogen bulbs did you know they generate UV radiation?
Since the filament is driven considerably harder producing a whiter light, the amount of UV radiation produced is augmented. Since the bulbs are made of quartz this will be passed freely. This is why they will use a glass sleeve or light bulbs will employ a glass envelope.

Perhaps the biggest offenders of UV-C emissions would be double ended HID (metal halide) lamps. Without a glass shield or envelope in place these are extremely dangerous to look at when operating at full brightness. Not really any different than staring into a welding arc. They will also cause sunburn to exposed skin in a very short period of time.

 

[Red Squirrel]

So you read one article that claims CFL's are harmful to you...an article that provides little to no data to support their claims, and you freak out and start believing it's the cause of your skin problems?

Not saying it can't be it, but do you immediately believe everything on the internet?

No, that's why I'm asking if this is just some overhyped BS crap, or if it's real.

Is there a way to actually test this?

There seems to be groups of scientists out there that are against CFLs, such as the ones that say they have deadly amounts of mercury. So I tend to take this with a grain of salt. but it's still alarming until it can be proven wrong.

 

[Red Squirrel]

The bulb is glass which filters harmful UV-C radiation.
So called germicidal tubes will actually have envelopes made of quartz. These will pass the harmful shortwave UV-C radiation. There is sufficient UV-C to generate ozone as well with those.

A CFL with cracks in the phosphor? I would not worry about it!

Speaking of halogen bulbs did you know they generate UV radiation?
Since the filament is driven considerably harder producing a whiter light, the amount of UV radiation produced is augmented. Since the bulbs are made of quartz this will be passed freely. This is why they will use a glass sleeve or light bulbs will employ a glass envelope.

Perhaps the biggest offenders of UV-C emissions would be double ended HID (metal halide) lamps. Without a glass shield or envelope in place these are extremely dangerous to look at when operating at full brightness. Not really any different than staring into a welding arc. They will also cause sunburn to exposed skin in a very short period of time.

Good to know. So don't really have to worry then.

Speaking of HID lights, am I the only one who can't stand people who use these on their car? They're way too freaking bright for nothing. The blue color is also harder on the eyes than white light.

 

[Rubycon]

Good to know. So don't really have to worry then.

Speaking of HID lights, am I the only one who can't stand people who use these on their car? They're way too freaking bright for nothing. The blue color is also harder on the eyes than white light.

There's several reasons for this and laws needed to be updated to get these hazards off the road.

Firstly the laws are based on watts, not lumens. When efficacy is greatly increased one can have a ludicrously bright headlamp and technically still be a legal beagle because the wattage is allowed. Placing a cap on lumens would solve this issue.

Second, the color temperature varies wide from 3700K (which appears yellow white like a tungsten halogen lamp) all the way to 8000K and higher which is very blue. For automotive applications 4100-4300K provides best balance of visibility and not becoming a nuisance to approaching drivers. 5000K should be the absolute highest for highway use. Higher has no real benefit, driving range is reduced and oncoming drivers find them very annoying!

Third is retrofitting aftermarket HID lamps into projectors designed for tungsten lamps. This is hazardous because it can produce a very broad glare, collimating the light into a ring which appears very bright to oncoming drivers. Also where the light is "bent" the corona produced is very blue and super bright, again wrecking the vision of oncoming drivers. These offenders should be ticketed and have the lights fixed to be in compliance.

 

[schneiderguy]

Thank the baby Jesus that I stocked up before the Assault Lightbulbs Ban of 2011.

I've got 1200 incandescent lightbulbs in my basement. Should last me the rest of my life.

FUcking libruls.

 

[NikolaeVarius]

No, that's why I'm asking if this is just some overhyped BS crap, or if it's real.

Is there a way to actually test this?

There seems to be groups of scientists out there that are against CFLs, such as the ones that say they have deadly amounts of mercury. So I tend to take this with a grain of salt. but it's still alarming until it can be proven wrong.

You don't prove things wrong. You prove them right.

If you read the damn article, the worst they could find was that over a period of 5.6 hours when you stay at 35 cm from a CFL, you receive 8 hours worth of uv radiation.

Radiation drops in intensity as a function of distance very quickly due to the inverse square law.

You're fine.

 

[Ice_Dragon]

I like the LED technology, I have two bulbs in my house but the rest are CFLs for now. I love cool white and the cool whites are more expensive than the warm whites.

 

[SparkyJJO]

Oooo the scary UV light. Whatever did our ancestors do without sunscreen and they worked outside all day? And people are scared of a small amount from a CFL bulb as if that's going to kill them

Whatever. I can think of more things than a little bit of UV to complain about.

http://images.lowes.com/product/converted/046135/046135500053.jpg

Soft white, no mercury, dimmable, no circuit boards, USA made...

Win.