For many students or late nighters long hours of study or work under a night lamp are commonplace. However, a recent study indicates that compact-fluorescent light bulbs that are used in lamps could cause skin damage.
The study published in June, in the Journal Photochemistry and Photobiology was led by researcher Miriam Rafailovich and her team from Stony Brook University. Their findings confirm that the energy saving CFL bulbs in our homes and offices emit harmful Ultraviolet-A and Ultraviolet-C radiation within a minute after being turned on. This happens because of cracks or bald spots in the bulbs.
“We evaluated the UV radiation coming out from the CFLs. How long does it take to reach the maximum threshold levels? The recommended ones are over an 8 hour level. It’s also based on the distance,” she says.
Not only did the CFLs indicate radiations on the threshold level detection device 7 hours and 59 minutes earlier than expected, the distance at which the bulbs were placed also affects the extent of damage on the skin. An exposed bulb, placed within two feet is an unprotected distance resulting in maximum susceptibility to skin damage.
“These bulbs are filled with mercury, that’s why it’s so toxic. Mercury gas when it is excited it emits two characteristic lines of mercury atoms-UVC and UVA,” she says.
Ultraviolet radiation is made up of three types: A, B and C. UVB radiations are those that cause sun burns and flecks on the skin, the high energy UVC is largely absorbed by the atmosphere and partly by the skin. UVA is the most potent.
“UVA you don’t feel, it penetrates quite deep, it doesn’t give you a sun burn but it just affects the melanocytes deep inside the skin and causes melanoma and cancer,” says the material science engineer.
The white spiral shaped bulbs are popular not only for their unique shape but also for reducing carbon footprints. Filled with amalgam, the purest form of mercury and containing a phosphor coating these features claim to prolong the life of the bulb by five times that of an incandescent. That’s the good part of a CFL. These bulbs are currently debated among health and environment agencies and now researchers like Rafailovich.
It’s the cracks or bald spots that appear because of the phosphor coating that Rafailovich says are the cause for radiation leaks. The researchers used over 20 CFLs purchased from different stores and all had cracks in them. The cracks were most likely due to the bend in the shape of the bulb and inadequate phosphor coating along the bends says Rafailovich.
“Damage does outweigh if you are 2 feet or less, there is no reason to expose yourself to cancer,” she says. The researcher does warn that although their findings indicate skin damage, medical experts need to confirm that CFL radiations are directly linked to causing cancer.
Rafailovich additionally did research to see the co-relation between CFL radiations and titanium dioxide, a colorless chemical compound frequently used in sunscreen lotions, toothpaste and even cosmetics. The findings indicated that human skin was more susceptible to damage if it had traces of titanium dioxide.
Rafailovich’s research findings have made headlines in the media. The issue she says is not the fear of using CFLs it’s the political and controversial undertones that come with it. While incandescent bulbs are currently being phased out, the concerns of using CFLs are now heightened. Manufacturing companies, distributors, retailers, consumers and even the cosmetic industry are not willing to comment on the claims put forward by the study for fear of backlash and innumerable lawsuits, should there be binding evidence.
Rafailovich however addressed the “panic” mode consumers get into with such scientific studies. She says there is no need to go ripping out light fixtures in the hope of eliminating the chances of skin damage. She also says that skin types are important to determine the effects and extent of radiation damage.
Bulbs enclosed in glass coverings and at a distance further than two feet are considered safe. Additionally, other options also exist like LED bulbs or even colored CFL bulbs which have no harmful radiation leaks.
“Right now people are looking into LED bulbs…They also emit x-rays at different levels. It’s a good solution, they have lower energy, are safer and they don’t break as easily,” she says reassuringly.
DIPTI KUMAR 