Keep away from 'green' light bulbs, warns Schwiss government

>
>
> The news of this new study was just published in the popular media in
> Sweden, I found an english article and the study itself.
>
> http://www.swisster.ch/news/society/keep-away-green-light-bulbs-warns-go\
> vernment.html
> <http://www.swisster.ch/news/society/keep-away-green-light-bulbs-warns-g\
> overnment.html>
>
> Study on ITIS website:
>
> http://www.itis.ethz.ch/downloads/ITIS-ESB-Final-Report-2010.pdf
> <http://www.itis.ethz.ch/downloads/ITIS-ESB-Final-Report-2010.pdf>
>
>
> Home <http://www.swisster.ch/> » News
> <http://www.swisster.ch/category/news/news> » Society
> <http://www.swisster.ch/category/news/news/society> [Keep away from
> 'green' light bulbs, warns government]
> <http://www.swisster.ch/files/light.jpg> Measuring emissions from
> energy saving bulb © IT'IS
> Keep away from 'green' light bulbs, warns government
> <http://www.swisster.ch/news/society/keep-away-green-light-bulbs-warns-g\
> overnment.html> by Giles Broom March 30, 2010 | 16:52 The federal
> government publishes new information on safety fears connected to
> Switzerland's growing market for energy-saving lamps. Whilst the
> study concludes overall that most eco-bulbs do not pose a significant
> health threat, new types of bulb do emit more radiation than older,
> inefficient models, and prolonged exposure may produce adverse
> electrical currents in the body.
> "Stay at least 30cm away from energy-saving lamps," said the federal
> government in new safety guidelines
> <http://www.bag.admin.ch/themen/strahlung/00053/index.html?lang=en&downl\
> oad=NHzLpZeg7t,lnp6I0NTU042l2Z6ln1ad1IZn4Z2qZpnO2Yuq2Z6gpJCJdIN7g2ym162e\
> pYbg2c_JjKbNoKSn6A--> published on Tuesday.
>
> The Swiss study, coordinated by the independent IT'IS research group
> <http://www.itis.ethz.ch/> , in conjunction with the government,
> measured the electro-magnetic fields (EMFs) of eleven eco-lamps and
> calculated the currents induced by these fields in humans.
>
> Low- and medium-frequency EMFs can induce electric currents in the human
> body which, above ascertain intensity, can stimulate the nerves and
> muscles, say scientists.
>
> The study concluded that most eco-bulbs have no negative health impact,
> with EMF levels falling within the limit defined by an expert body, the
> International Commission on Non-ionising Radiation Protection (ICNIRP
> <http://www.icnirp.de/> ).
>
> Nonetheless, the government is still warning people to be more careful
> with office desk lamps and bedside lamps, which people tend to leave on
> close to themselves for long periods, potentially exposing themselves to
> radiation.
>
> "Following the conclusions of the study, and if consumers follow the
> precautionary advice, the government sees no health related evidence to
> change its strategy for energy-efficient lighting," Marianne Zünd,
> Federal Energy Office spokesperson, told Swisster.
>
> EMF science is rife with unknowns, stretching from light bulb radiation,
> to the possible cancerous effects of power lines.
>
> "The long-term consequences have not yet been adequately
> studied," said a statement released with the new guidelines.
>
> Individual brands and products under study were not revealed; however,
> the report did say that a 23 watt bulb producing a medium frequency
> current bewteen 25-70 kiloHertz (kHz) can release 55 percent of the
> recommended maximum exposure to EMFs.
>
> EMF science is rife with unknowns, stretching from light bulb radiation,
> to the possible cancerous effects of power lines.
>
> But new home lighting devices have been invented amid a widespread
> public policy drive to improve efficiency and reduce heat loss from the
> traditional incandescence bulb – the device developed and
> commercialised by Thomas Edison and Joseph Swan in the late 19th
> century.
>
> Due to new regulations the market for lighting has undergone radical
> changes. Traditional incandescent light bulbs, with low energy
> efficiency are increasingly being replaced by energy-saving lamps.
>
> Lighting represents 15 percent of Switzerland's power consumption,
> at a cost of 1.2 billion francs per year.
>
> Switzerland is broadly following European Union regulations on the
> matter.
>
> Since January 1 Swiss retailers have followed regulations restricting
> lamp sales to models compatible with state energy efficiency standards.
> Authorities will ramp up the obligation in September, with tougher
> standards, resulting in an eco-bulb-only lighting system by 2012.
>
> Swiss department store Manor sells energy savings lamps made by Philips.
> "We observe all developments and recommendations from the Federal Office
> of Public Health concerning this matter," said Manor spokesperson,
> Elle Steinbrecher, to Swisster.
>
> "You can use and continue to use energy saving lamps instead of
> light bulbs, without concerns, and thus contribute to energy saving and
> environment protection," said Steinbrecher.
>
> Research has shown that old-fashioned bulbs lose up to 95 percent of
> power through heat loss, while some halogen bulbs emit 30 to 50 percent
> less power than the traditional apparatus.
>
> The government has also introduced efficiency regulations on kitchen and
> living room appliances such as refrigerators and DVD players.
>
> The Federal Office of Public Health (FOPH) posts guidelines
> <http://www.bag.admin.ch/themen/strahlung/00053/00673/03570/index.html?l\
> ang=en> on electromagnetic fields which occur around a range of
> household devices, including wifi boxes, cordless phones and bay
> monitors. Even waterbeds, which have an electric heating system –
> can release EMFs.
>
> More sinister levels of radiation are thought to occur around big
> infrastructures such as power sub-stations and phone masts.
>
> Studies by the World Health Organisation (WHO) have made conclusions on
> what levels of EMFs are safe. But "there are gaps in knowledge still
> needing to be filled before better health risk assessments can be made,"
> according to WHO guidelines
> <http://www.who.int/peh-emf/publications/facts/factsheets/en/index.html>
> .
>
> Research by Bristol University's Professor Denis Henshaw, a leading
> expert on the subject, has found that power lines are linked to
> childhood leukaemia and other cancers.
>
> In the home, the light bulb is a potential health hazard for other
> reasons. "People who are less than 20 cm from these lamps for several
> hours may experience reddening of the skin as a result of excessive UV
> exposure," say government guidelines.
>
> The FOPH is sponsoring a range of other studies to assess the different
> risks.
>
> "We're looking at different light compositions," Professor Christian
> Cajochen, of the Basel Psychiatric University, told Swisster.
>
> "The specific wavelength can have an effect on hormones in the body,"
> said Cajochen.
>
> His study, which reports in June, is also investigating the effects of
> different types of light on bodily secretion and sleep patterns.
>
>
>
>
> [Non-text portions of this message have been removed]
>