Light Aware

Would you like to help?
Join Us
  • Home
  • About
    • Are you LightAware?
      • Types of Lighting
      • Good practice
    • Who we are
    • Individual Stories
    • LightAware Card
  • Politics
    • Government reports
    • Legislation
    • Political process
      • United Kingdom
      • Worldwide
  • Science
    • Medical
    • Technology
    • Environment
  • Media
    • UK Press
    • International Press
    • Audio and Video
  • News
  • Blog
  • Contact
You are here: Home / Media / International Press / Clear evidence ‘green’ lighting is harmful

Clear evidence ‘green’ lighting is harmful

March 15, 2013 Filed Under: International Press

Letter in the South China Morning Post:

I refer to the letter by Allan Dyer (“‘Green’ lighting fears just a Luddite attack”, March 3) replying to my letter (“‘Green’ light bulbs really a health hazard”, February 22).

Evidence linking compact fluorescent lamps (CFLs) and LED lighting to mental illness, depression, exhaustion, and eyesight problems can be found on the Spectrum Alliance website. This site contains testimonies from patients, optometrists and medical doctors, including a clinical immunologist, who links causes of chronic fatigue syndrome directly to these light bulbs.

Patients across Europe have been unnecessarily prescribed drugs, with bad side effects, for a range of symptoms when in reality all they needed was to avoid CFL and LED lighting. CFLs and LEDs generate light very different from natural light. Incandescent bulbs produce light similar to natural light. It is the light spectrum from CFLs and LEDs that causes illness.

On January 19 the UN signed the Minamata Convention on Mercury. It bans the production, import and export from 2020 of certain types of CFLs because of the serious impact the mercury contained in these bulbs has on humans and the environment.

The article “Green light bulbs poison workers”, in The Times, in 2009, gives a detailed account of how CFLs are linked to ill health. The Daily Mail on March 5 identified villages in China where pollution from metals has caused high rates of disease as “cancer villages”.

Where I live, broken CFLs and LEDs are just tossed into normal rubbish, leaving rubbish collectors regularly exposed to cancerous toxins. The management company’s attitude is one of, this is not a problem because the government is promoting these bulbs as green. The light bulb industry spends billions of dollars a year on securing deals with governments and green groups to promote CFLs and LEDs because these bulbs yield more income than the incandescent bulbs they seek to ban.

The Hong Kong government should ensure all light bulbs carry labels for light spectrum and toxins. Actual CFL and LED bulbs should be stamped with the skull and crossbones to prompt responsible disposal.

Dr Robert Hanson, Tseung Kwan O

Click here for link to original letter

Filed Under: International Press Tagged With: CFL, health hazard, led

Latest News

‘Like a sun on Earth’: Las Vegas warning if dazzling venue built in London’s East End

Stratford residents fear planned MSG Sphere … [More...]

EU finally sees the light!

The EU has just announced funding to examine … [More...]

Light pollution ‘can have a big impact’ on wildlife – Birdwatch Ireland – PODCAST

Light pollution can be hindrance if it’s … [More...]

Information sheets

  • Making Buildings Accessible
  • Lighting And Accessibility Your Rights At Work
  • Lighting Accessibility Access Healthcare
  • Lighting Accessibility External Security LED light

Useful Links

Links Page Blog

Stay in touch with us

  • 
  • 
  • 
  • 

Archives

If you would like to be put in contact with one of the LightAware ambassadors please contact:

info@lightaware.org

Make a Donation

LightAware Card

LightAware Leaflet

LightAware is a registered charity, SC046160 - Privacy Policy - Cookie Policy | Website designed by Lennon Design

  • Increase Font
  • Decrease Font
  • Black & White
  • Inverse Colors
  • Highlight Links
  • Regular Font
  • Reset
Real Accessability