[AERNet] Fluorescent Lights

[Ann Edie]

Hi, Elaine,

I have a question about the new compact fluorescent lights, but my question 
is not specifically about their effects on people with low vision.  My 
question is about the health effects and "green" nature of the lights.

I understand that traditional fluorescent tubes had toxic materials in them, 
specifically lead, I believe.  (My great aunt used to tell the story of a 
young nephew of hers who was a wonderful young man.  Just a week before his 
16th birthday, he came over to the house to talk to his grandmother about 
the birthday cake she was going to make for him and the party he was going 
to have with his friends.  While he was there, he helped out by replacing 
the fluorescent bulb in the ceiling fixture in the bathroom.  Unfortunately, 
the bulb broke in the process, and a piece of the tube cut the boy's scalp. 
He thought nothing of it at the time, but soon became ill, was hospitalized, 
and died from lead poisoning of his blood before his 16th birthday.)

Even when I was a child, I remember my father insisting on cleaning up the 
shards of a broken fluorescent tube in our basement, rather than allowing 
anyone else to do the job, because he knew that these bulbs were 
particularly dangerous.

What I want to know is whether the compact fluorescent bulbes of today 
contain the same toxic materials as the bulbs of the past, or perhaps 
different but still dangerous substances.  If so, wouldn't these bulbs pose 
a health risk to us and to the children of today, just as they did in the 
past, not only from breakage, but also from the vaporizing of the toxic 
materials into the air even through sealed tubes?

And also, when these bulbs are discarded in our landfills, won't the lead or 
other toxic substances leach into the soil and ground water, and eventually 
get into the general environment and food chain, just as mercury has gotten 
into the fish and the water, and lead has gotten into the air, into milk, 
and into other foods?

I hope that you have some information on this aspect of the new fluorescent 
lights, or that you can direct me to some resources on the topic.

I would like to think that these new compact fluorescent lights will help 
solve some of our energy and global warming problems.  But I am reluctant to 
climb onto the bandwagon until I am sure that they won't cause terrible 
health side effects in the process.

By the way, I would like to receive the packet of information on lighting 
for people with low vision.  My e-mail address is annedie at nycap.rr.com.

Thanks much,
Ann

----- Original Message ----- 
From: "APH LOUISVILLE" <APHSUB at aph.org>
To: <presley at afb.net>; <aernet at lists.aerbvi.org>
Sent: Wednesday, May 02, 2007 11:14 AM
Subject: Re: [AERNet] Fluorescent Lights


> Hi Ike,
>
> As you know, this is a favorite topic of mine.  Your buddies are half
> right.  The old lights flickered a lot and caused a lot of stress to
> persons using them.  But that is not the only issue for people with
> visual impairments.  The kind/color of light emitted from the tube, no
> matter what shape it is, is determined by the phosphors (or mineral
> dust) that coats the inside of the tube.  When buying tubes it is
> important to look at the code on the tube to determine what kind of
> light is emitted.  Every code should include a two digit number after
> the last slashmark in the code.  If that number is higher than 32, the
> tube will emit bluish light which is very demanding on the eyes and
> leads to photostress in many people who have eye problems.  Numbers of
> 32 and lower, emit light that is closer to the red end of the spectrum,
> and very easy on the eyes.
>
> I have a 30 page packet of information which covers most everything
> you'd want to know about lighting for persons with low vision.  Anyone
> who would like a copy can write to me at ekitchel at aph.org and I'll be
> happy to send it either by snail mail, or electronically.  Just please
> don't bog down the listserve with the requests.
>
> All the best,
>
> Elaine Kitchel
> Low Vision Project Leader
> American Printing House for the Blind
>
>>>> "Ike Presley" <presley at afb.net> 05/01/07 12:32PM >>>
> Hi All,
>
> I checked with some of my buddies in electrical engineering about the
> issue of fluorescent lights. It seems that the older style tube lights
> that are used in many buildings are the real culprit when it comes to
> causing physical discomfort for some people. The newer, compact
> fluorescent bulbs, that are spiral shaped do not have the same problem
> and these are the types of bulbs that are being recommended.
>
> If anyone knows anything different, please chime in.
> Ike
>
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