Energy saving bulbs 'release cancer causing chemicals', say scientists

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By Daily Mail Reporter
Last updated at 2:07 PM on 20th April 2011

New fears: Cancer causing chemicals are released by energy-saving bulbs when they are switched on, scientists said
Energy saving bulbs emit cancer causing chemicals it was claimed last night as new fears were raised about their safety.
Scientists said they should not be left on for long periods of time or placed close to a person’s head because they release poisonous materials.The EU has unveiled plans to phase out ‘normal’ incandescent bulbs by the end of next year as they try to cut carbon emissions.
They should not be used by adults to read or kept near a child’s head all night, the experts said.
While it is already known that harmful amounts of Mercury are released if one of the new ‘green’ bulbs is broken, the latest research shows other carcinogenic chemicals are emitted when they are switched on.
The German research shows that the chemicals are released as a form of steam.
The harmful substances include phenol - a poison injected by the Nazis to kill thousands of concentration camp victims during World War II - and the human toxins naphthalene and styrene.
Tests showed that the materials used to make the lamps are probably responsible for their potentially harmful side effects.
Andreas Kirchner, from 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.’

‘They should not be used in unventilated areas and definitely not in the proximity of the head.’

The report on German television forced the country’s environmental protection agency to issue a warning against ‘public hysteria.’
The Department for the Environment has insisted that the bulbs are safe.
Dr Michelle Bloor, lecturer in Environmental Science at Portsmouth University, told the Daily Express: 'Further independent studies would need to

Read more: Energy saving bulbs 'release cancer causing chemicals', say scientists | Daily Mail Online

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I saw this on facebook. Has anyone else heard about this smog?
I know if Compact Fluorescent Light Bulb were broken they release mercury but in all my dealings with led’s (Light emiting Diodes), I never heard of this.

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I’ve never heard it - and snopes doesn’t have anything on it.

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No definition of " energy saving bulb"! R l.e.d’s the issue? Compact florescents? Low wattage inc?

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The pic is of a compact flo… so one can assume…

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To the worry warts that published this research, I would like to respectfully call ::bs::

Let me start off with a few observaitons:
A UV sterilizer puts off Ozone, which is highly toxic in significant quantities. My father has emphysema and had an air purifier in his room, which he essentially seals off to keep in the “good” air. After about 6 months of this, he started having breathing problems. We removed the air purifier, problem solved.

Fisherman used to have a tendency to develop dimensia and other disorders related to heavy metal intake, due to eating fish laiden with Mercury (and other heavy metals). This was after eating for, MANY years; filter feeding crustaceans, tuna, and other fish that adsorb these metals.

I state this to make the following point: EVERYTHING IS HARMFUL IN EXCESS. The char that you get from grilling meat is a carcinogen, and causes cancer.

Mercury does not appear out of nowhere, and if it IS leaching out of the bulb it is in such small quantities in a normal environment that it’s not a concern. The parameters that these tests were performed under are paramount (space affected, distance tested, duration of test, life of bulb, type of bulb, type of circulation, ambient humidity/temp/circulation).

IMHO, with normal circulation and normal usage (I turn lights out when exiting a room, and don’t keep them running if I don’t need them), these lights are far from dangerous. You get more heavy metal poisoning from eating a can of tuna.

My advice: Don’t stay locked in a closet for 2 days straight while using 10 of these bulbs as an incubator while reading your favorite suspense thriller.

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Oh noes!! Let’s all take our bulbs and smash them out in the street!!

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Forgot to mention, look at the amount/type of chemicals released directly into your food when you heat it up in plastic containers, or with plastic wrap. I would think that THIS would be a bigger issue, but this is comming from someone who isn’t afraid of the light . . .

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Man that’s it - time to fashion the good 'ole tin foil helmets again.

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First, I was just curious as I am not removing the ones I have. I was wondering if anyone heard anything about this. Not that I think its a government conspiracy. (might be)
I also thought it was weird that they said “green bulbs” I would assume since LED’s have not taken over the energy saying bulb market they are talking about them. I would be suprised if by the time this ban goes into effect we would see a discontinuation of CF bulbs as they are green on power consumption but not rather nice to the environment. Led’s, unless something like plasma or other future lighting source becomes available should be the next household green bulb.
It just seems odd that it took till now to hear this. Usually when someone enacts a law that people don’t like you see tons of these claims. The timing is odd as its been a while since the EU made the decision to ban incandescent.

Second, there’s gold in them there bulbs! If this story is true and they still ban the incandescent bulbs then we can all sell the EU worry warts incandescent bulbs for some jacked up price.

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Well, i thought it said mercury is released only when the bulb is broken. if its leaking, it wont be lighting up. otherwise the spiral tube or T5 is sealed. But recycling old bulbs is important to keep the mercury out of land fills, the air and water.

I suppose there is a little emission of heavy metals and rare earths from the surface of printed circuits, as they heat up during use. Thats that electronic smell we always smell around electronics of some power.

LEDs, being a transistor, also contain some metals and rare earths, and will also need proper recycling after their long, long, long life.