Free Republic
Browse · Search
News/Activism
Topics · Post Article

Skip to comments.

Energy saving light bulbs 'contain cancer causing chemicals'
telegraph.co.uk ^

Posted on 04/21/2011 7:34:10 AM PDT by Sub-Driver

Energy saving light bulbs 'contain cancer causing chemicals'

Fears have been reignited about the safety of energy saving light bulbs after a group of scientists warned that they contain cancer causing chemicals.

By Victoria Ward 7:16AM BST 20 Apr 2011

Their report advises that the bulbs should not be left on for extended periods, particularly near someone’s head, as they emit poisonous materials when switched on.

Peter Braun, who carried out the tests at the Berlin's Alab Laboratory, said: “For such carcinogenic substances it is important they are kept as far away as possible from the human environment.”

The bulbs are already widely used in the UK following EU direction to phase out traditional incandescent lighting by the end of this year.

But the German scientists claimed that several carcinogenic chemicals and toxins were released when the environmentally-friendly compact fluorescent lamps (CFLs) were switched on, including phenol, naphthalene and styrene.

Andreas Kirchner, of the Federation of German Engineers, said: “Electrical smog develops around these lamps.

“I, therefore, use them only very economically. They should not be used in unventilated areas and definitely not in the proximity of the head.”

(Excerpt) Read more at telegraph.co.uk ...


TOPICS: Culture/Society; Front Page News; News/Current Events
KEYWORDS: bulbs; cancer; cfl; energy; envirofascism; epa; globalwarming; globalwarminghoax; green; lightbulbs; lights
Navigation: use the links below to view more comments.
first previous 1-2021-33 last
To: Sub-Driver

Thank you for the link. Posted it to my facebook page, with an added comment about the mercury content, and that I saw one of these bulbs at the dump, still in the lamp that was being thrown away. How much of this is going on already? I’ll go to kerosene and candles before I buy these crappy ass bulbs. Or just a good old flashlight with those REALLY bright LEDS. Those things are amazing.


21 posted on 04/21/2011 8:28:03 AM PDT by Mama Shawna
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: Sub-Driver

I hope Obama uses these to read by.


22 posted on 04/21/2011 8:30:20 AM PDT by thethirddegree
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: Sub-Driver

Just wondering....how come the sanitation union isn’t up in arms about this?????


23 posted on 04/21/2011 8:42:43 AM PDT by FES0844
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: Sub-Driver

Could someone explain the difference in chemical makeup between an ordinary fluorescent light that has been in wide use for more than 50 years and a compact fluorescent light? The chemical makeup of the fluorescent light must include the ballast.


24 posted on 04/21/2011 8:45:53 AM PDT by frposty (I'm a simpleton)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: blam

I buy incandescent bulbs for my grand kids:)


25 posted on 04/21/2011 8:48:36 AM PDT by Cold Heart
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 13 | View Replies]

To: blam
"I bought a lifetime supply of incandescent bulbs two years ago."

I actually like CFL's, but am adamantly opposed to the "banning" of incandescents. The Feds are usurping authority they do not have by issuing such an edict.

26 posted on 04/21/2011 8:58:51 AM PDT by Wonder Warthog
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 13 | View Replies]



Tough Dog Says "Donate"


Click the Pic

27 posted on 04/21/2011 8:59:06 AM PDT by TheOldLady
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | View Replies]

To: blam
I bought a lifetime supply of incandessent bulbs two years ago.

I don't have that many but did restock my supply last month.

28 posted on 04/21/2011 9:07:58 AM PDT by bgill (Kenyan Parliament - how could a man born in Kenya who is not even a native American become the POTUS)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 13 | View Replies]

To: Wonder Warthog

Same here. Less heat is always a good thing for my preferences, but folks should be able to buy and use the kind they like.


29 posted on 04/22/2011 1:45:38 AM PDT by Fire_on_High (Stupid should hurt.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 26 | View Replies]

To: Sub-Driver

Electrical smog? WTF?


30 posted on 04/22/2011 2:06:17 AM PDT by Fresh Wind ('People have got to know whether or not their President is a crook.' Richard M. Nixon)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: frposty
Could someone explain the difference in chemical makeup between an ordinary fluorescent light that has been in wide use for more than 50 years and a compact fluorescent light?

A 50-year-old fluorescent light fixture would have the ballast encased in a metal box; the fixture itself would likely be made of metal. In case of a critical malfunction the ballast might catch fire, but the metal enclosure would most likely prevent it from igniting anything else. The ballasts 50 years ago didn't often didn't contain any fire-retardant chemicals, but the metal enclosure would mitigate fire risk. Note that such fixtures often had a three-prong cord, with the ground terminal tied to the metal case, to prevent a shock hazard in case a failing ballast developed a short between the live wire and the case.

Newly-manufactured fixtures use electronics which are more energy-efficient than the classic ballast, but are also more prone to exothermic failure. Although some full-sized fixtures may still encase the ballast in metal, many instead rely upon fire-retardant plastics. Although flame retardant plastics are often effective at preventing fires, many of them work by outgassing nasty fire-suppressant chemicals when heated. This would be great if the plastics only outgassed the chemicals in situations where they would otherwise burn. Unfortunately, the plastics will outgas the chemicals (albeit more slowly) when they are heated to a point well short of combustion; some CFL electronics get hot enough to cause such behavior. Not only do the released chemicals pose health risks, but the fact that they've been released can render them ineffective in preventing fires. A lamp which develops a fault which causes it to run very hot for a few months but still work apparently normally could burst into flames if a more critical fault occurs.

It might be logical to require CFLs to shut down or switch to an intermittent mode of operation if they get hot enough to cause outgassing. Unfortunately, that would give CFL's an even worse reputation with regard to reliability.

31 posted on 05/14/2011 10:42:46 AM PDT by supercat (Barry Soetoro == Bravo Sierra)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 24 | View Replies]

To: supercat

“difference in chemical makeup between an ordinary fluorescent light and CFL”

Thanks for the informative reply, which is delayed because I was on vacation.

Hadn’t thought of the heat-caused emissions from the plastics in the ballasts. I recall that the old metal-encased ballasts get hot and often need replacing. They could have emissions when hot also, huh?

I still don’t see a reason why the new CFLS are any more harmful to the environment than the old fluorescents.


32 posted on 05/20/2011 11:05:34 AM PDT by frposty (I'm a simpleton)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 31 | View Replies]

To: frposty
Hadn’t thought of the heat-caused emissions from the plastics in the ballasts. I recall that the old metal-encased ballasts get hot and often need replacing. They could have emissions when hot also, huh?

Not really. The issue isn't so much the plastic inside the ballasts, but rather the plastic enclosure itself. Metal is a much better conductor of heat than plastic, and so the old metal-cased ballasts didn't get as hot as the newer ones; metal also doesn't generally give off nasty fumes when heated (unless it gets really, really hot).

33 posted on 05/20/2011 9:02:20 PM PDT by supercat (Barry Soetoro == Bravo Sierra)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 32 | View Replies]


Navigation: use the links below to view more comments.
first previous 1-2021-33 last

Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.

Free Republic
Browse · Search
News/Activism
Topics · Post Article

FreeRepublic, LLC, PO BOX 9771, FRESNO, CA 93794
FreeRepublic.com is powered by software copyright 2000-2008 John Robinson