Compact Fluorescent bulbs release cancer-causing chemicals when turned on, says new research

 

A new study conducted by Peter Braun at the Alab Laboratory in Berlin, Germany, has found that the eco-friendly lightbulbs (compact fluorescent lamps, CFLs) we’ve all been using for the last few years in an effort to be environmentally-friendly and also to save money, contain poisonous carcinogens that cause cancer. This research adds to a previous study conducted by Abraham Haim, a professor of biology at Haifa University in Israel, that shows that the light emitted by CFLs increase the risk of breast cancer in women by disrupting the body’s production of the hormone melatonin. Another study released in 2008 from the Maine Department of Environmental Protection warned that when a CFL is broken, dangerously high levels of mercury are released into the air.

The current study has found that the carcinogens found in CFLs include phenol, naphthalene and styrene, and that these are emitted when the light bulbs are turned on. Andreas Kirchner of the Federation of German Engineers says these bulbs should not be used in unventilated places, nor in the proximity of the head, due to the electrical smog which develops around the lamps.

Sources: Prison Planet.com , The Telegraph , Natural News

Philips unveils energy-efficient incandescent light bulb – 04/11

On Earth Day, Philips Lighting is launching a new line of incandescent light bulbs that, while not as efficient as light-emitting diodes (LED) or compact fluorescent bulbs, meets federal energy efficiency standards currently coming into force in the US. The range uses halogen elements and provides energy savings of about 28% compared to conventional incandescent bulbs, and gives the same quality of light as the traditional bulbs.

Source: Reuters

 

Super-efficient light bulb prices will be halved by 2017 – 05/11

Light bulbs made using light-emitting diodes (LEDs) are currently very expensive, but the latest generation of light bulbs generate as much as a 100-watt incandescent bulb using only 14 watts of power, meaning the consumer will still have to pay up front, but will save a lot of money over the life of the bulb. LED technology is expensive but energy-efficient, and the bulbs can last up to 25 times longer than a traditional bulb.

Source: Reuters

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First Published May 2011

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