Energy-saving bulbs 'can cause migraines' warn experts

[SUBMAN1]

Energy-saving bulbs 'can cause migraines' warn experts

By JENNY HOPE and DAVID DERBYSHIRE - More by this author » Last updated at 00:04am on 2nd January 2008

Energy saving light bulbs can trigger migraines, health experts and charities warned last night.



They have been inundated with complaints about the fluorescent bulbs, which are due to become compulsory in homes within four years.


Campaigners are calling for the Government to allow an opt-out for people with health problems so they can continue to use old-style bulbs.


The warning follows concerns that eco-bulbs can trigger dizziness, loss of focus and discomfort among people with epilepsy.


There have also been complaints from people with lupus - an auto-immune disease causing many symptoms including pain.


Low energy lightbulbs are miniature versions of the fluorescent strip lights common in offices and kitchens. The latest generation are the size of conventional incandescent bulbs with a filament, but use just a quarter of the energy.


Although they are often five times the cost of old-fashioned bulbs, they use around a quarter of the energy and can pay for themselves within months. Critics, however, say the technology is still not up to scratch. Many complain the light is cold or green, and they take up to a minute to warm up properly, and because they are fluorescent, they flicker.


The Migraine Action Association said there was growing concern about the links between the bulbs and severe headaches.


The charity's Paul Jansen said: "For some people a migraine attack can be triggered by fluorescent lights, video screens, stroboscopic effects and flashing lights.

"Most of the currently available low energy light bulbs are based on fluorescent light technology.


"We hope that the Government will allow regular light bulbs still to be available to those who need them.'


The Government has acknowledged low energy bulbs could pose a problem.
In a written parliamentary answer, Health Minister Ivan Lewis said: "It is known some people with epilepsy may be affected by energy saving light bulbs."


The Lighting Association denied that flicker was a problem with modern energy saving bulbs.


"Compact fluorescent lamps give a constant, flicker-free, nonstroboscopic light," said spokesman Jo Jackson.


She warned against poor quality, cheap lamps, saying: "A small number of cases have been reported by people who suffer from reactions to certain types of linear (straight line) fluorescent lamps.


"These were almost certainly triggered by old technology."


A spokesman for the Energy Saving Trust said: "The technology has changed massively over the last few years. We would advise people to only buy bulbs with the Energy Saving Recommended - SR - logo."


The Migraine Action Association is on www.migraine.org.uk, or phone 01536 461333.

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/pages/liv...=1965&ito=1490

[Skybird]

Such bulbs may actually consume just one fifth like normal bulbs, butI avoid them like the plague. not only do I hate their hard, greenish light, but today practically all producers do not care for electromagnetic shielding, with the result that many of the current models emit electromagnetic radiation that surpasses that of a computer monitor multitple times - the maximum in germany was a regular bulb by an regular producer, emitting 50x (!!! yes, fifty !!!) as much electromagnetism as a CRT computer monitor. So better keep your distance.

sensitive people also can be irritated by the flickering of neonlights. that now headache is reportted and igraines, is absolutely no surprise, I think. I am a bit responsive to that, too, so I know it is not just imgination people are reporting.

Not in my living rooms. If I want it cold, I will sit inside the refrigerator. So far, all labels that I ever tested in warehouses and even at home, that described the light as "warm" and "extra warm" have been "Rohrkrepierer". I now have a collection of four different energy saving bulbs on the shelf, not using them, and nobody wants them. Not little money I wasted.

The future probably is LED anyway, saving even more energy, but the same problem: they do not get the white right, since years. It either is as snowy white as a white dwarf, or as blue that indeed it is a light blue colour they emit. Only friendly, warm white with a note of orange like normal bulbs: so far impossible for everybody.

[SUBMAN1]

Well, I am no fan of them either - they give me headaches. I think I've complained about this in this forum at some point earlier too.

-S

[STEED]

Originally Posted by SUBMAN1

Energy-saving bulbs 'can cause migraines' warn experts

By JENNY HOPE and DAVID DERBYSHIRE - More by this author » Last updated at 00:04am on 2nd January 2008

Energy saving light bulbs can trigger migraines, health experts and charities warned last night.

Well here in the UK I am stocking up on normal light bulbs this year as the EU clap trap will hit us in 2009, I suffer from migraines and if these saver bulbs trigger my migraines the EU will get a bill from me for pain killers.

[XabbaRus]

Well I have them all over my house and no flickering and no white light problems, they work just fine for me.

[Skybird]

Originally Posted by STEED

Well here in the UK I am stocking up on normal light bulbs this year as the EU clap trap will hit us in 2009, I suffer from migraines and if these saver bulbs trigger my migraines the EU will get a bill from me for pain killers.

There still is no mechanism that makes it obligatory to use energy saving bulbs, and I think it will not come too soon on EU level. Anyway, you can use halogen bulbs for an alternative. Just some weeks ago I saw that now they have installed them inside regular bulbs to, so that you do no longer need to exchange the whole lamp in order to turn to halogen due to their different sockets. these new ones are effectively a normal light bulb to be screwed into the lamp, but inside is no glow-wire (or however you call it in English), bu a second (halogen) mini lamp.

Saves around 30-40% energy, lives longer, and has friendly, gemütlich, good light.

In the end energy saving bulbs are nothing else but neaon lights with slightly modieifed frequences/gas composition. Thats also the reason why they do not get the red-component right, like with big neon stickls as well. The gas being used today cannot transport red-frequencies so good, that's why you have these lights appearing so high in their green and blue components - the red is missing to some serious degree.

[Blacklight]

I switched over to flourescent bulbs all over my house years ago. First off... this act alone cut my electric bill in half. Seccond, there is no noticeable flickering or greenish color to the light. The light is nicely white. The only time these bulbs start to flicker is when they need to be replaced and it's a VERY noticeable flicker as in the room will suddenly turn dark and then light up again. it isn't a strobe light.

[Skybird]

Originally Posted by XabbaRus

Well I have them all over my house and no flickering and no white light problems, they work just fine for me.

the flickering is in the high end of what some humans can just perceive. It's not that they are going on and off ten times per second. I estimate it ion the 80+ Hz range. A technician must know this better, though. and like not all people see or see not a CRT with 75 Hz as a stable, non-flickering picture, not all people are vulnerable to this light flickerign issue as well. I just perceive it if my eyes are looking beside the bulb at a by a certain range of around 20 cm - I do not see it in the room, or when looking into the bulb. But there are people who see it inside an area of 50-100 cm around the bulb. It also depends on the light bulb, there are technical differences.
Also: "more expensive" does not necessarily translate into "better": tests that were occasionally published in media or on TV showed that the cheap no name bulbs often do as good pr even better concenring Lumen-value, warm up time, endurance. The worst bulbs I have bought - all are established great company names. Those I would eventually accept before these, were non name-bulbs.

Currently only in my basement cellar a 25W (=120W) bulb is working. that is a nice trick, if you need slightly brighter light, but cannot install a higher Watt-bulb due to limitations of the wire or lamp. since energy saver need less poiwer, you can ake those that equal a Watt value that is hopelessly beyond any such limits. I had a limit of 50W, but now run that 25 energy saver that roughly equals a 120W bulb. It is brighter. not much, but enough to make a difference.

[Skybird]

Originally Posted by Blacklight

I switched over to flourescent bulbs all over my house years ago. First off... this act alone cut my electric bill in half. Seccond, there is no noticeable flickering or greenish color to the light. The light is nicely white. The only time these bulbs start to flicker is when they need to be replaced and it's a VERY noticeable flicker as in the room will suddenly turn dark and then light up again. it isn't a strobe light.

I checked many in past weeks, the complete sortiment in a huge Baumarkt nearby, including all of Osram, Philips, and three other manufacturer with a specialised reputation. They all failed in the red component. It also is very clearly to be seen with energy lights on one wall (for demonstration), and normal bulbs on the other shelf, so that your eyes can quickly jump back and fourth. My parents were a bit dissapointed some months ago when they also had chnaged several bulbs in their home with energy savers - and I immediately noticed it very easily, and correctyl identieid all regular and saving bulbs. Like you they thiught there is no difference in light colour. But there is, and for me it is absolutely obvious.

It stuns me that some people say they cannot see that difference. I do not mean it aggressive or offending, but I would recommend to see an eye doctor. Maybe there is really a deeper problem on the medical level.

[Penelope_Grey]

Originally Posted by XabbaRus

Well I have them all over my house and no flickering and no white light problems, they work just fine for me.

Likewise... If you buy a decent quality one there shouldn't be a problem. We have 3 energy efficient bulbs in the computer room chandelier and I am out here all night sometimes either working or seeing to Grey Wolves matters like testing or just me tinkering myself learning stuff... and I have yet to see a single migraine in the whole 6 months they have been there.

[Letum]

No problems with em here!
Nice bright, flicker free and cheep light, but then I'm not epaleptic.


I can see the flicker in the old fasioned long flouresent bulbs, I assume the new ones
operate at higher frequency (?)

[SUBMAN1]

It takes me at least 85 Hz to have a stable monitor picture. I'd rather have 100 to 120, but 85 is tolerable. Maybe this has something to do with why I am sensitive to these lights.

-S

[baggygreen]

I've bought energy-saving globes before, back when i was a poor uni student with no money to waste on electricity bills.

I found them to be weak and dull, certainly NOT giving the equivalnt of the 60 watt bulbs i'd been using previously, which was promised!

I've not gone back for a couple of years, and will continue to steer clear of them for a while yet.

And for anyone who might jump at me throat calling me a carbon criminal or whatever, i save energy and the environment in other ways.

[SUBMAN1]

Originally Posted by baggygreen

...And for anyone who might jump at me throat calling me a carbon criminal or whatever, i save energy and the environment in other ways.

Like turning the light off when not in use like the rest of us, no?

-S

[baggygreen]

I was thinking more carpooling to work, or public transport... but yes, no lights too! Who needs light when you've a monitor giving off all the light you need??

Wait..... you mean theres a life outside of sims???!