Thursday, April 21, 2011

So it's not only 'Don't break the CFL bulb!', it's

'Don't use it very much!'
Fears have been reignited about the safety of energy saving light bulbs after a group of scientists warned that they contain cancer causing chemicals.
...
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
.
Well, isn't that just wonderful? There are mentions of other studies indicating problems with the things, too.

3 comments:

Keith said...

I've seen a few threads about those things failing, with holes burned in the tube and flames. They're not the thing youd want in a hay barn or somewhere with lots of flamables.

There's lots of circuitry in the head or root or whatever it's called, and it doesn't like getting hot. Seems they don't like getting cold either.

I replaced a blown 100w incandescent with one a couple weeks back, it was supposed to be the same light output, but no way is it even close. I could read comfortably with the incandescent, not with this expensive piece of trash.

My LED replacements for the flush halogen spots, they're looking good.

SHARON said...

Should we go back to candles?
Having this stuff shoved at us with no choice is what pisses me off. Had to accept un-leaded gas, now gas with ethanol. They took the lead out of paint, now its worthless. Can you still buy oil-based paint? Don't get me started on the new gas cans with their idiot-proof spouts. GRRRRRRRRRRRR

Sigivald said...

I'm calling bullshit on this one.

One guy says it, with no mechanism for how that'd happen, no concentration or amount data?

I'm dubious as hell, and double dubious that if there's anything behind it, that it's actually dangerous at all.