There is still a lot of doubt about the health impacts of fluorescent tube lamps, despite the expanding corpus of studies on the topic. Many people worry that they may eventually damage their eyes and produce cataracts. Some people worry that fluorescent lighting might aggravate preexisting diseases that aren't skin-related.
Cataracts may be caused, in part, by prolonged exposure to ultraviolet light.
Cataract risk may be increased by prolonged exposure to UV light, according to certain research. There are three distinct parts of the ultraviolet spectrum. When compared to UVB, UVA poses less risk to the eyes. Light with a shorter wavelength can be more harmful to living things.
Retinal pigment epithelium cells are especially vulnerable to oxidative stress due to the high levels of light and oxygen to which they are exposed. Cataracts and age-related macular degeneration may also be influenced by this stress.
Mice exposed to UVB develop posterior sub-capsular cataracts. Degeneration of the lens fibers near the lens's posterior pole is a hallmark of this form of cataract.
Cataracts were shown to develop after prolonged exposure to UVB in mice. A higher risk of developing cortical cataracts has been linked to prolonged exposure to UVB, according to research from Australia.
Another study indicated that long-term exposure to UVR was linked to worsening CDK, a spheroidal degeneration of the superficial corneal stroma. Overproducing kynurenines in mice led to cataracts in a single study after only three months. Another study found that the incidence of cataracts in Nepal increased in proportion to the length of daylight.
Researchers found that prolonged exposure to UVA might disrupt the normal functioning of lens cells. Dr. Nagaraj and colleagues conducted research showing that exposure to UVA and low levels of UVB radiation caused apoptosis in lens epithelial cells. They also noticed a decrease in the thickness of the outer nuclear layer as a result of the radiation exposure.
Consequences for Chronic Diseases Not Connected to the Skin
The consequences of fluorescent tube bulbs on human health are not fully recognized, despite the fact that they are a modern invention. Many people are concerned about their health due to the presence of toxic compounds like chromium and arsenic in fluorescent lighting, but no research have looked at the effects of fluorescent light itself. Furthermore, there is no solid evidence that fluorescent tube lighting is the cause of photophobia in any demographic. The consequences of mercury on human health are another contentious issue. Despite the debate, fluorescent lights have become quite popular in many regions, notably Europe. As a result, several nations are proposing laws to gradually phase out the use of incandescent bulbs across the built environment. We can only hope that these efforts will lead to lasting improvements in people's standard of living. Manufacturers are also increasing the efficiency of fluorescent lights, which means less energy is used to run the lights and less carbon dioxide is released into the atmosphere. The health advantages of fluorescent lights aren't the only ones worth considering; lower energy costs are only one example. Furthermore, fluorescent lights, although containing mercury, may have a lesser impact on the environment.
The Effects of Fluorescent Lighting on the Environment
While fluorescent lighting has numerous benefits, it also has some negative effects on the environment. This is especially true with CFLs, which have been linked to pollution in the natural world.
About 3.8 billion fluorescent bulbs were installed in the United States in 2010, according to a report by the U.S. Department of Energy. Recycling these lights prevents mercury from entering the environment.
CFLs, or compact fluorescent lights, are one method for doing so. This has the potential to reduce emissions that contribute to climate change on a global scale.
However, there is countervailing data suggesting that exposure to fluorescent lighting is associated with an elevated risk of UV-related eye illness. The elderly may be particularly affected by this.
Migraine headaches and heightened sensitivity to light may both be exacerbated by prolonged exposure to fluorescent lighting. A life cycle analysis can determine the full extent of these lights' effects. The environmental profile of a product or process takes into account its raw materials, its byproducts, and its overall effect on the environment.
A Wisconsin recycling center for fluorescent lights was the site of another study that looked into the environmental effects of these lights. Five out of seven workers were found to have abnormally high mercury levels. Clinical symptoms consistent with mercury poisoning were also described.
