The previous Great NEWS post asked Are Cereals Health Hazards and today we consider Are Compact Florescent Lights a Health Hazard? Compact Florescent Light (CFL) bulbs have become the primary form of light bulb around the world. We have been told they are better for the planet because they use much less energy and last many times longer than traditional incandescent light bulbs. With so much emphasis on CFL by government decree and major advantages it seems obvious they are the perfect choice right? Maybe we should ask better questions and research further before replacing all our incandescent bulbs with CFLs. There are many considerations concerning CFL and their impact on our quality of life. Today we will reveal some concerns about CFL to decide “Are Compact Florescent Lights a Health Hazards?”
The Great NEWS Coach Health Hazard series is written to help people be more aware of common health hazards. Many things in our high tech world can negatively influence our health. How we choose to deal with them will determine how happy and healthy we will be. Most people lack awareness regarding how small decisions directly affect every thing that happens in our life. Our behaviors, beliefs and biology run our life in the same way that programmed hardware, software and operating systems run a computer. Choose wisely.
Light bulbs are one of our least concerns when you look at the big picture and understand the entire spectrum of energy usage and energy waste.
If our government and industry is so concerned about saving electricity and energy why are there so many ineffective, inefficient and wasteful energy practices? Many businesses and homes are wastefully designed and poorly constructed which results in massive amounts of energy wasted for air conditioning, heating and lighting structures that were built to be wasteful. In the United States (US) our lack of quality mass transit, inefficient communities and homes, outdated rail system, suburbs with long commutes and traffic congestion is a total embarrassment. When combined with the wasteful disregard for energy conservation and efficiency it shows a lack of genuine commitment and concern for being frugal energy guardians.
Almost everywhere you look massive amounts of coal, natural gas and nuclear powered electric plants, as well as diesel and gas powered vehicles are needlessly wasting energy and fuel that costs a fortune while polluting our world. Wasteful agriculture practices and inefficient cross country transportation delivery and logistics systems are a massive energy drain costing billions of dollars of unnecessary waste. Light bulbs are one of our least concerns when you look at the big picture and understand the entire spectrum of energy usage and energy waste. We need innovation and leadership to radically re-engineer the entire American infrastructure and lifestyle which is broken and going bankrupt.
What Makes Compact Florescent Lights a Health Hazard?
Compact Florescent Lights have been mandated to be the main choice for home and office lighting. Unfortunately most people do not take the time to read the labels or research how CFL’s are made before purchasing them. As a result they often put themselves and family at risk. Most people buy CFL’s thinking they are totally safe, use them without realizing there are serious risks and them throw them in the trash when they stop working.
The CFL package in my hands says these bulbs use 25 watts to produce the same light as a 100 watt bulb. My experience shows they are not the same brightness. The light they produce has an unusual effect and hue compared to full spectrum lighting. Something about using a CFL bulb makes it more difficult to read and tiring on my eyes. The label says they will last for 7 years or more based on 5 hours use per day. My experience shows even with less usage they are not lasting that long. The label does not mention how to safely deal with a broken bulb or proper disposal after it stops working.
When you read the packaging you learn they are not to be used with dimmers, motion control devices, photocells and timers. There are other warnings about avoiding using them in recessed lights and track lighting. They do not explain why so these situations must create some form of risk also.
The packaging has a warning the product may cause interference with radios, remote controls, TV and telephones. That should be a clue that the CFL is emitted something with Electro Magnetic Frequency (EMF) if it can interfere with electronic devices that receive EMF signals. There is substantial information regarding the risks of EMF exposure.
The vast majority of CFL’s are now being made in China. Countries around the world have accepted the story about saving electricity and reducing green house gases in the process. The majority of people who buy CFL’s are not aware of the dangers and risks they present. They are not aware they may be doing more harm than they realize to their children, themselves and the planet. People have been brain washed to think they are efficient and totally safe to use. Unfortunately they do not know the real story behind the CFL industry and the hazards they have created. The packages of several CFL bulbs reviewed do not mention mercury, safe disposal of a broken CFL bulb or safe disposal later on. This appears to be a serious lack of transparency about these products.
CFL companies are making big bucks by getting us to replace all our old incandescent light bulbs. While it may be true they are more energy efficient than an incandescent bulb there is a lot more to the story than just watts of electricity used for lighting.
The Great NEWS Coach philosophy is a based on following a fairly simple lifestyle and philosophy. Focus on profound wisdom and proven principles to avoid pain and advance pleasure in all eight areas in our wheel of life. Just because something may be beneficial in one area does not make it a good decision if it harms us in several other areas at the same time.
Many people have been brainwashed into believing that CFL’s are totally green and safe, but this is simply not true. By investing a little energy and time today we will share some shocking truths about the CFL bulb secrets they are not talking about. If your long term happiness, health and harmony are important then learning more about the dangers and risks associated with CFL’s is essential.
Is the CFL Industry Revealing the Whole Truth?
Most people are complacent and confused about why we have been told to switch from incandescent lights to CFL’s. It is importance to understand the details and difference about the light bulbs we choose to use. Important details and information about bulbs includes: disposal, distribution, manufacturing, recycling, resources needed, price and safety.
While we all want cost efficient light bulbs and to save energy we must decide if it is worth the risk to our happiness and health to be exposed to toxic mercury. To maintain a healthy and high quality life we must avoid exposure to toxic heavy metals like mercury which is an extremely dangerous neurotoxin even in minute amounts.
This post will help with empowering information to help us stop choosing dangerous CFL’s when we can use LED, incandescent or natural sunlight instead. When we realize how dangerous and toxic CFL’s are it is much easier to find ways to utilize other choices more easily.
How Can CFL’s Affect Our Health?
Our brain, eye and nervous system are part of a very complex and delicate network that is easily affected by chemicals, EMF and toxins.
Let’s look at how CFL’s can negatively affect our health and life.
- CFL’s are more uncomfortable and strenuous on many people’s eyes.
- CFL’s emit Electro-Magnetic Frequencies (EMF) which bother many people.
- CFL’s contain mercury a serious health hazard and heavy metal toxin. Mercury can cause damage to our brain, DNA, endocrine system, nervous system and reproductive system. Developing children are especially vulnerable to mercury damage.
- CFL’s that break can expose people to the mercury inside.
- CFL’s must be sent to a hazardous material center for proper handling and disposal. Most people simply toss them in the garbage. Those that end up in land fills release toxic mercury that can end up in our air, soil and waters.
- Our brain, eye and nervous system are part of a very complex and delicate network that is easily affected by chemicals, EMF and toxins. Many people are finding their eyes can be easily distressed by the artificial light and EMF’s emitted by CFL’s and other artificial light sources.
- Several researchers have found that EMF’s are harming our brain and overall health.
My goal for sharing valuable life lessons learned over the years regarding the harmful effects and risks of CFL’s is to help people minimize the use of CFL’s as we switch to less harmful light sources in order to maximize our health and safety. The CFL industry has deceived us about the risks associated with using their light bulbs which contain mercury. Mercury is one of the most harmful heavy metals and a serious risk to humans. We must take responsibility for our own happiness and health and avoid using CFL’s which are made with toxic mercury inside.
Today we revealed how the CFL bulb industry and government have convinced us to replace relatively harmless incandescent light bulbs and replace them with CFL which have mercury. Breaking a CFL in your home releases a hazardous material. If a CFL bulb breaks there are very detailed and specific steps you must take to dispose of it and protect your family. (seek the Snopes link below) All CFL’s are an accidental mercury hazardous material release waiting for a place and time to happen. This makes all CFL’s in the home or work place a potential health hazard.
This Great NEWS post regarding “Are Compact Florescent Lights a Health Hazard offers a simple suggestion…avoid breaking or improperly disposing of Compact Florescent Light (CFL) bulbs. As more people learn the truth about CFL’s made with mercury more people will avoid them and use incandescent, LED or natural sunlight instead. This will help create a global shift for developing and selling safer light bulbs instead of high risk CFL bulbs with mercury. Regardless of what we have been told about CFL’s being safe you now know they are health hazards.
What is your current Gap?
Are you using CFL’s thinking they are safe when they may harm your happiness and health? What is more important than avoiding potential mercury hazardous material and protecting your family?
Mastery Action Plan (MAP)
What mastery action plans will help you become more educated about the dangers of CFL’s? Did you miss the Fox News story on CFL’s? Read it here: http://www.foxnews.com/health/2011/03/07/danger-lurking-compact-fluorescent-light-bulbs/
Here is what Snopes has to say about proper handling of CFL’s. http://www.snopes.com/medical/toxins/cfl.asp
Call to Action
What comments, commitments or concerns come to mind regarding the risks of using Compact Florescent Light bulbs? What other choices do we have to stop using dangerous CFL’s with mercury and start using safer alternatives instead?
Next week the Great NEWS blog will share:
Are Multivitamins and Supplements Health Hazards?
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