Comments on: great technology, dispose with care http://blog.mukodu.com/2007/11/07/great-energy-efficient-light-bulbs-dont-go-in-the-garbage/ Tue, 23 Nov 2010 16:20:15 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.8.4 hourly 1 By: Dr. Magda Havas http://blog.mukodu.com/2007/11/07/great-energy-efficient-light-bulbs-dont-go-in-the-garbage/comment-page-1/#comment-38 Dr. Magda Havas Thu, 15 Nov 2007 15:41:50 +0000 http://blog.mukodu.com/2007/11/07/great-energy-efficient-light-bulbs-dont-go-in-the-garbage/#comment-38 We are in the process of completing a study with these bulbs. So far everyone of the ones we've tested, including full spectrum "healthy" compact fluorescent bulbs produce dirty electricity although at different frequencies and intensities. The results will be made available to the public so people can decide for themselves which bulbs they want to buy for their home. There was a story in the Daily Mail earlier this year. See below. Although some thing it is the quality of light that epileptics are responding to, I think it is the RF radiation. You can get more information about dirty electricity at the following websites: www.getpurepower.ca www.dirtyelectricity.ca www.electricalpollution.com Energy-saving light bulbs 'are threat to epileptics' By ELEANOR MAYNE - More by this author » Last updated at 10:41am on 24th June 2007 The 'green' light bulbs which will be made compulsory in British homes can cause people with epilepsy to experience symptoms similar to the early stages of a fit. The charity Epilepsy Action says that those with the condition are complaining of dizziness, loss of focus and discomfort after being exposed to light from the energy-saving bulbs. The cause of the problem is not known as the bulbs do not flicker at the rate that would normally cause ill-effects. But the issue has become prominent because of EU plans to phase out all traditional bulbs within two years and replace them with low-energy versions. Almost half a million people in the UK suffer from epilepsy and the Government has acknowledged there may be a problem. Answering a parliamentary question, Health Minister Ivan Lewis said: It is known some people with epilepsy may be affected by energy-saving light bulbs. We have made no assessment of the number of such people affected. • Why eco lightbulbs won't cure global warming Conservative MP Geoffrey Cox last night called on the Government to investigate the health effects and devise a policy that will enable sufferers to acquire these bulbs without ill-effects. In March, Tony Blair and fellow EU leaders agreed to phase out old-fashioned bulbs in private homes by 2009 to cut down on carbon dioxide emissions. It is likely there will be a ban on the sale of the older bulbs. Epilepsy Action confirmed they had taken calls from people complaining of problems with the new bulbs. A spokesman said: 'There are no reports of seizures - it is more reports of discomfort similar to the symptoms that come before a seizure. The research into this is still at an early stage. It has just come to our attention and we are starting to look into it.' Dr Arnold Wilkins, a professor of psychology at Essex University, came up with one possible explanation. He said: 'The new lights have an uneven spectral distribution. The white light is made up of a red and blue peak, rather than all wavelengths. That may make it difficult to see differences between colours and might affect people.' There have also been complaints of discomfort from people with lupus. In the UK there are about 16,000 sufferers of the condition, which causes swelling and pain as the body attacks its own tissues. The Department of Health said: 'This is a developing area and we have no further comment.' We are in the process of completing a study with these bulbs. So far everyone of the ones we’ve tested, including full spectrum “healthy” compact fluorescent bulbs produce dirty electricity although at different frequencies and intensities. The results will be made available to the public so people can decide for themselves which bulbs they want to buy for their home.

There was a story in the Daily Mail earlier this year. See below. Although some thing it is the quality of light that epileptics are responding to, I think it is the RF radiation.

You can get more information about dirty electricity at the following websites:

http://www.getpurepower.ca
http://www.dirtyelectricity.ca
http://www.electricalpollution.com

Energy-saving light bulbs ‘are threat to epileptics’
By ELEANOR MAYNE – More by this author » Last updated at 10:41am on 24th June 2007

The ‘green’ light bulbs which will be made compulsory in British homes can cause people with epilepsy to experience symptoms similar to the early stages of a fit.

The charity Epilepsy Action says that those with the condition are complaining of dizziness, loss of focus and discomfort after being exposed to light from the energy-saving bulbs. The cause of the problem is not known as the bulbs do not flicker at the rate that would normally cause ill-effects.

But the issue has become prominent because of EU plans to phase out all traditional bulbs within two years and replace them with low-energy versions. Almost half a million people in the UK suffer from epilepsy and the Government has acknowledged there may be a problem.

Answering a parliamentary question, Health Minister Ivan Lewis said: It is known some people with epilepsy may be affected by energy-saving light bulbs. We have made no assessment of the number of such people affected.

• Why eco lightbulbs won’t cure global warming

Conservative MP Geoffrey Cox last night called on the Government to investigate the health effects and devise a policy that will enable sufferers to acquire these bulbs without ill-effects. In March, Tony Blair and fellow EU leaders agreed to phase out old-fashioned bulbs in private homes by 2009 to cut down on carbon dioxide emissions. It is likely there will be a ban on the sale of the older bulbs.

Epilepsy Action confirmed they had taken calls from people complaining of problems with the new bulbs. A spokesman said: ‘There are no reports of seizures – it is more reports of discomfort similar to the symptoms that come before a seizure. The research into this is still at an early stage. It has just come to our attention and we are starting to look into it.’

Dr Arnold Wilkins, a professor of psychology at Essex University, came up with one possible explanation. He said: ‘The new lights have an uneven spectral distribution. The white light is made up of a red and blue peak, rather than all wavelengths. That may make it difficult to see differences between colours and might affect people.’

There have also been complaints of discomfort from people with lupus.

In the UK there are about 16,000 sufferers of the condition, which causes swelling and pain as the body attacks its own tissues.

The Department of Health said: ‘This is a developing area and we have no further comment.’

]]> By: Katrin http://blog.mukodu.com/2007/11/07/great-energy-efficient-light-bulbs-dont-go-in-the-garbage/comment-page-1/#comment-37 Katrin Wed, 14 Nov 2007 23:20:20 +0000 http://blog.mukodu.com/2007/11/07/great-energy-efficient-light-bulbs-dont-go-in-the-garbage/#comment-37 Thank you for sharing this interesting information. Do you have an article with more detail on the 'dirty electricity' that these bulbs emit that I could point people to? Links would be preferable. Thank you, Katrin Thank you for sharing this interesting information.
Do you have an article with more detail on the ‘dirty electricity’ that these bulbs emit that I could point people to? Links would be preferable.
Thank you,
Katrin

]]> By: Magda Havas http://blog.mukodu.com/2007/11/07/great-energy-efficient-light-bulbs-dont-go-in-the-garbage/comment-page-1/#comment-34 Magda Havas Wed, 07 Nov 2007 21:34:41 +0000 http://blog.mukodu.com/2007/11/07/great-energy-efficient-light-bulbs-dont-go-in-the-garbage/#comment-34 What we haven't been told about the CFL bulbs is that they also produce radio frequency radiation and dirty electricity and are making some people sick. Symptoms include headaches, nausea, fatigue, body aches and pains, dizziness, difficulty concentrating, loss of short-term memory, tremors, etc. About 3% of the population have electrohypersensitivity (EHS), a sensitivity to energy produced by electronic equipment and wireless technology. These people don't "like" these lights, become ill when entering stores that use them, and wouldn't consider buying them for their home or office use. They prefer the less energy efficient incandescent lights that don't produce dirty electricity or radio frequency energy. If you really want to "save the planet" and still protect your health, I would suggest you buy the LED (light emitting diodes) that are more energy efficient than CFL, don't contact mercury, and don't produce radio frequencies that may be harmful to your health. The Canadian government has to convince manufacturers to redesign these CFL bulbs and instead of promoting them, they should be banning them. -Dr. Magda Havas Associate Professor Trent University, Peterborough, ON, Canada What we haven’t been told about the CFL bulbs is that they also produce radio frequency radiation and dirty electricity and are making some people sick. Symptoms include headaches, nausea, fatigue, body aches and pains, dizziness, difficulty concentrating, loss of short-term memory, tremors, etc. About 3% of the population have electrohypersensitivity (EHS), a sensitivity to energy produced by electronic equipment and wireless technology. These people don’t “like” these lights, become ill when entering stores that use them, and wouldn’t consider buying them for their home or office use. They prefer the less energy efficient incandescent lights that don’t produce dirty electricity or radio frequency energy.

If you really want to “save the planet” and still protect your health, I would suggest you buy the LED (light emitting diodes) that are more energy efficient than CFL, don’t contact mercury, and don’t produce radio frequencies that may be harmful to your health.

The Canadian government has to convince manufacturers to redesign these CFL bulbs and instead of promoting them, they should be banning them.

-Dr. Magda Havas
Associate Professor
Trent University, Peterborough, ON, Canada

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