While there are a couple of exceptions, newspaper and internet articles published during the last 7 months generally suggest that compact fluorescent lamps (CFL’s), which are being promoted as energy-efficient replacements for incandescent globes, may aggravate health problems including migraine, eczema, seizures and lupus in light-sensitive people. Some countries, including Australia, plan to replace incandescent globes with CFL’s as one measure in reducing greenhouse gas emissions.

Several reports quoted representatives from the British Association of Dermatologists and Spectrum, an alliance of charities working with people with light sensitive conditions, who agreed that people with photosensitive conditions must be able to continue using lights that did not exacerbate their conditions. Often, such people are kept indoors to avoid exposure to natural sunlight.

However, work reported by Balbus et al (2008) found that, based on photosensitisation indices, substituting a CFL for an incandescent globe should not increase the phototoxicity of selected photosensitizers, while balbus (2008) argued that while there was a theoretical risk to people with severe photosensitive skin diseased form the small amount of UV light emitted by CFL’s, he could find no published scientific studies demonstrating that CFL’s trigger migraines or seizures. He stated that most people with eczema have no such photosensitivity.

Both the British Health Minister and a spokesman for the Australian Health Minister are quoted by Hope/Derbyshire and Marcus respectively, as acknowledging that CFL’s may be associated with health problems. The Australian spokesperson stated that the Government will continue to consider health issues and examine options to address any significant issues.

References

Balbus, J.  2008   Dangerous CFLs? Don’t believe everything you read   Online, available at : http://environmentaldefenseblogs.org/climate411/2008/02/06/cfls_parade/

BBC News  2008   Low energy bulbs “worsen rashes”   Online, available at : http://news.bbc.co.uk/go/pr/fr/-/1/hi/health/7170246.stm

Chignell, C., Sik, R. and Bilski, P.   2008   The Photosensitising Potential of Compact Fluorescent vs Incandescent Light Bulbs  Photochemistry and Photobiology. Online, available at : http://www3.interscience.wiley.com/journal/1201251052/abstract?cretry=1&retry=0

Gutierrez, D.  2008   Fluorescent light bulbs linked with eczema, seizures, migraines, skin rashes   NaturalNews.com. Online, available at : http://www.naturalnews.com/z023810.html

Hope, J.  2008   Environmentally friendly light bulbs “can give you skin cancer”   Mail Online. Available at : http://www.dailymail.co.uk/health/article-506082/environmentally-friendly-light-bulbs-skin-cancer.html

Hope, J. and Derbyshire, D.  2008   Energy-saving bulbs “can cause migraines” warn experts   Mail Online. Available at : http://www.dailymail.co.uk/sciencetech/article-505571/energy-saving-bulbs-cause-migraines-warn-experts.html

Marcus, C.  (2008)  Sufferers may shun headache eco bulbs  Sydney Morning Herald. Online, available at : http://www.smh.com.au/articles/2008/01/26/1201157739788.html