Are fluorescent lights killing me? - Tilted Forum Project - TFP - Sexuality, Philosophy and Political Discussion

neddy65 · 03-10-2007, 06:42 AM

Ever since I installed CFL's in my house i have felt unwell. The light is too bright and hurts my head. Could it be that they are robbing me of a happy life?

MSD · 03-10-2007, 07:13 AM

Fluorescent lights emit a narrower spectrum of visible light than incandescents and can produce symptoms similar to seasonal affective disorder. Additionally, certain ballasts cause a 60hz flicker (50hz in Europe) which can trigger migraines or casue eyestrain; I know they can for me. Certain lights can also emit a high pitched whine on the edge of the audible spectrum, similar to the sound of a CRT's flyback transformer. This sound makes me feel sick to my stomach and makes my mind feel clouded and less sharp than usual.

As for health effects,

Quote:

Photochem Photobiol 1995 Apr;61(4):353-9 Related Articles, Links

Reversion profiles of coolwhite fluorescent light compared with far ultraviolet light: homologies and differences.

Cebula TA, Henrikson EN, Hartman PE, Biggley WH.

Molecular Biology Branch (HFS-235), CFSAN, FDA, Washington, DC 20204, USA.

General Electric and Sylvania 15 W coolwhite fluorescent lamps emit roughly 6% of their total irradiance as light in the UV spectrum. Illumination of sensitive Salmonella tester strains results in both lethal and mutagenic activities. In contrast, comparable Philips lamps emit lower levels of UV light, especially UVB, and exhibit no detectable lethal or mutagenic effects. The spectra of mutations induced by General Electric coolwhite lamps in histidine-requiring base substitution mutants hisG46 and hisG428 ("reversion profiles") resemble mutagenesis by far UV light (UVC) and differ quite markedly from the spectra of mutations that occur spontaneously. Coolwhite and UVC reversion profiles are not identical, however. The percentage of C to A transversion mutations induced in hisG46 are elevated over those found after UVC treatment, and a strong bias for one particular class of tandem base substitutions (TAA-->TGT) prevails after treatment of hisG428 with coolwhite light, a bias not observed with UVC. Increased attention needs to be given to minimization of exposure to UV light from fluorescent lamps commonly used in homes and workplaces.

Unless you're a strain of bacteria, you should be fine as far as negative effects from the lights themselves.

alkaloid · 04-03-2007, 03:40 PM

neddy65,

If I were you and felt that way, I would change my light bulb right away. Actually probably not. I'm too lazy. I would feel bad about it for a couple of months and change it then, when I could no longer stand it. Then it would be too late, since I would be too weak due to exposure to the life-sapping light bulb.

Best wishes.

snicka · 04-05-2007, 04:40 PM

I tried CFL's in my house but they hurt my head for the reasons specified by MrSelfDestruct. So popped them out and got a bunch of the natural light incandescents. They burn more energy but don't suck as bad as CFL. I can't wait for CFL to be required by law!

gotekix · 04-05-2007, 05:18 PM

Flourescents have always made me feel sick. If I'm in a room with them for too long (more than 3 hours) I begin to get a headache and feel nauseous.

If I were you I'd change them out immediately for incandescent bulbs. No point in keeping them if you are feeling unwell, even if it costs a bit more on the electic bill.

SaltPork · 04-09-2007, 12:48 PM

What MSD said...happens to me too. Those lights aren't killing you, they just don't like you.

Willravel · 04-09-2007, 12:55 PM

http://www.nature.com/nature/journal.../266724a0.html
http://www.pubmedcentral.nih.gov/art...2434&tools=bot

It may very well be dangerous, but everything is dangerous. Cell phones may cause cancer, magnetic field may cause cancer, starlight may cause cancer, vaccines may cause cancer, viruses may cause cancer, mouthwash might cause cancer, and yes, even Willravel might cause cancer.

hunnychile · 04-12-2007, 06:47 PM

When I worked in the HR department at a large sales & marketing firm in N. CA. I was told to gather info in regard to this very subject. More data was found that said the majority of full time workers "seemed" to feel better when exposed to incandescent light. It appears that workers complained less about headaches and lethargy. That said...if you feel the flourescent lights are making you sick - then they probably are.

Have you done any serious online reasearch or are you waiting for us to share our data & research with you?

Change your lights and let us know how you are feeling after, say, 6 weeks or more. /Bet you're going to feel somewhat better/

Push-Pull · 04-16-2007, 09:15 AM

I know that in the "tube" type flourescents, they have a lot of variety as far as what kind of light. For example, I have some "daylights" on one side of my workshop, and some "regular" (cheapies) on the other. The "daylight" side is MUCH easier to see into darker corners and is more akin to having a skylight above rather than flourescents.

MSD · 06-03-2007, 12:07 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by willravel

http://www.nature.com/nature/journal.../266724a0.html
http://www.pubmedcentral.nih.gov/art...2434&tools=bot

It may very well be dangerous, but everything is dangerous. Cell phones may cause cancer, magnetic field may cause cancer, starlight may cause cancer, vaccines may cause cancer, viruses may cause cancer, mouthwash might cause cancer, and yes, even Willravel might cause cancer.

Fluorescent light is non-ionizing radiation. Cell phone signals are non-ionizing radiation. Wi-Fi radio is non-ionizing radiation. Magnets have a negligible effect on the human body. starlight is non-ionizing radiation. Vaccines may cause cancer but no causal correlation has been demonstrated yet. Some viruses do cause cancer. Mouthwash, left in place for long enough, may cause cancer. You are a mad scientist and therefore the arbitrator of who gets and does not get cancer from you.

Nimetic · 06-06-2007, 04:53 AM

You could drape your head with a tea-towel - or small blanket. That should help.

mr_alleycat · 06-08-2007, 11:41 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by MrSelfDestruct

Fluorescent lights emit a narrower spectrum of visible light than incandescents and can produce symptoms similar to seasonal affective disorder. Additionally, certain ballasts cause a 60hz flicker (50hz in Europe) which can trigger migraines or casue eyestrain; I know they can for me. Certain lights can also emit a high pitched whine on the edge of the audible spectrum, similar to the sound of a CRT's flyback transformer. This sound makes me feel sick to my stomach and makes my mind feel clouded and less sharp than usual.

OMG!
That explains it

Crompsin · 06-10-2007, 08:31 AM

Not you, per se... but the environment.

They have a ton of mercury in them, I think.

03-10-2007, 06:42 AM	#1 (permalink)
neddy65 Psycho Join Date: Jul 2003 Location: I'm just sittin' here watching the world go round and round	Are fluorescent lights killing me? Ever since I installed CFL's in my house i have felt unwell. The light is too bright and hurts my head. Could it be that they are robbing me of a happy life? __________________ If you're travelling at the speed of light, and you turn the headlights on, do they do anything? My name is Inigo Montoya. You killed my father, prepare to die! Drink Dickens' Hard Cider because nothing makes a girl smile like a Hard DIckens' Cider!

04-09-2007, 12:48 PM	#6 (permalink)
SaltPork Everything's better with bacon Join Date: Apr 2003 Location: In your local grocer's freezer.	What MSD said...happens to me too. Those lights aren't killing you, they just don't like you. __________________ It was like that when I got here....I swear.

04-09-2007, 12:55 PM	#7 (permalink)
Willravel [wil-ruh-VEL] Join Date: Aug 2004	http://www.nature.com/nature/journal.../266724a0.html http://www.pubmedcentral.nih.gov/art...2434&tools=bot It may very well be dangerous, but everything is dangerous. Cell phones may cause cancer, magnetic field may cause cancer, starlight may cause cancer, vaccines may cause cancer, viruses may cause cancer, mouthwash might cause cancer, and yes, even Willravel might cause cancer. __________________ ɯǝɥʇ ǝʌlos uɐɔ ǝʍ ʇɐɥʇ ǝɔuɐɹouƃı ɥƃnoɹɥʇ ʇou sı ʇı 'sɯǝlqoɹd ǝʇɐǝɹɔ uɐɔ ǝƃpǝlʍouʞ ɟı Last edited by Willravel; 04-09-2007 at 12:57 PM.

04-12-2007, 06:47 PM	#8 (permalink)
hunnychile 100% Genuine Join Date: Sep 2003 Location: East of Eden...	When I worked in the HR department at a large sales & marketing firm in N. CA. I was told to gather info in regard to this very subject. More data was found that said the majority of full time workers "seemed" to feel better when exposed to incandescent light. It appears that workers complained less about headaches and lethargy. That said...if you feel the flourescent lights are making you sick - then they probably are. Have you done any serious online reasearch or are you waiting for us to share our data & research with you? Change your lights and let us know how you are feeling after, say, 6 weeks or more. /Bet you're going to feel somewhat better/ __________________ "Don't worry about the world coming to an end. It's already tomorrow in Australia." - Charles Schultz

04-16-2007, 09:15 AM	#9 (permalink)
Push-Pull No se muevan! Join Date: Mar 2007 Location: The great SW desert...	I know that in the "tube" type flourescents, they have a lot of variety as far as what kind of light. For example, I have some "daylights" on one side of my workshop, and some "regular" (cheapies) on the other. The "daylight" side is MUCH easier to see into darker corners and is more akin to having a skylight above rather than flourescents. __________________ "No laws, no matter how rigidly enforced, can protect a person from their own stupidity." -Me- "Some people are like Slinkies..... They are not really good for anything, but they still bring a smile to your face when you push them down a flight of stairs." -Unknown- DAMMIT! -Jack Bauer-

04-03-2007, 03:40 PM	#3 (permalink)
alkaloid Dead Inside Join Date: May 2003 Location: East Coast, USA	neddy65, If I were you and felt that way, I would change my light bulb right away. Actually probably not. I'm too lazy. I would feel bad about it for a couple of months and change it then, when I could no longer stand it. Then it would be too late, since I would be too weak due to exposure to the life-sapping light bulb. Best wishes.

04-05-2007, 04:40 PM	#4 (permalink)
snicka Crazy Join Date: Jun 2003	I tried CFL's in my house but they hurt my head for the reasons specified by MrSelfDestruct. So popped them out and got a bunch of the natural light incandescents. They burn more energy but don't suck as bad as CFL. I can't wait for CFL to be required by law!

04-05-2007, 05:18 PM	#5 (permalink)
gotekix Upright Join Date: Dec 2004	Flourescents have always made me feel sick. If I'm in a room with them for too long (more than 3 hours) I begin to get a headache and feel nauseous. If I were you I'd change them out immediately for incandescent bulbs. No point in keeping them if you are feeling unwell, even if it costs a bit more on the electic bill.

06-06-2007, 04:53 AM	#11 (permalink)
Nimetic Junkie Join Date: Apr 2005 Location: Melbourne, Australia	You could drape your head with a tea-towel - or small blanket. That should help.

06-10-2007, 08:31 AM	#13 (permalink)
Crompsin STRIKE FACE Join Date: Jun 2007 Location: Prime Self	Not you, per se... but the environment. They have a ton of mercury in them, I think. __________________ C19H28O2 = C6H2(NO2)3CH3 Merleniau: "Your face is old and moldy!"