Light Bulb Ban Creating Jobs...

[doctorjj]

There hasn't been any data to support the headache claim. The proposed mechanism for that is flickering. In fact, modern CFL's actually flicker less than incandescents. Also the photosensitizing index calculated from their emissive spectra is about half of what incandescents produce and are therefore better for people with sensitive skin.

 

[bulbboy]

I deal with lights everyday. There is something to the headache claim. Once a week I'm dealing with a customer who has someone in their office with headaches from their lights. Almost always its the older style T12 fluorescents that I can help by retrofitting to the T8's. The newer bulbs cycle tens of thousands more times a second than the old style which is around 600 times a second. The human eye picks that up and it bothers some people. Changing the bulb to a warmer shade is also very helpful.

 

[BadgeBunny]

CFLs give some people migraines. What are these folks supposed to do? Ever had a migraine? They put me right to bed in the dark and I ain't moving. So if one can't work because of a condition like this do they get disability? Thank God they don't bother me but some aren't so lucky.

Yep, I feel ya! I do know of at least one person who is getting disability because of headaches caused by lighting in the office. At least she was a few years ago. I haven't talked to her or seen her for several years now.

There hasn't been any data to support the headache claim. The proposed mechanism for that is flickering. In fact, modern CFL's actually flicker less than incandescents. Also the photosensitizing index calculated from their emissive spectra is about half of what incandescents produce and are therefore better for people with sensitive skin.

There are so many triggers for migraines that don't have any data to support claiming that they cause migraines ... funny ... I still get that raging headache anytime I am under CFL's for long, or when the barometric pressure starts moving rapidly or when I eat certain foods ... none of which are "official" triggers -- and certain medications. Nevermind that my neck injury (which I had been told by more than one doctor could not possibly be causing my headaches) are better now with chiropractic and pain management treatments. It's kinda hard not to blame the neck injury when I was practically headache free for almost half a year before we got rear-ended. They were back with a vengence in less than 24 hours ...

Not trying to pick a fight with ya ... just saying that just because it is not in an official report somewhere doesn't mean it isn't so for certain individuals.

 

[sigsilly]

The flickering lights will trigger epileptic fits in some people.
I believe it does cause headaches.
I've hung thousands of fluorescent lights over the years and put in many more thousands of bulbs.
I think maybe the warm white tubes cause less problems in that regard than the cool whites.
They make objects more "pink" and less of a harsh white.

 

[bettingpython]

How many Forum members does it take to change a light bulb?

1 to change the light bulb and to post that the light bulb has been changed

14 to share similar experiences of changing light bulbs and how the light bulb could have been changed differently

7 to caution about the dangers of changing light bulbs

1 to move it to the Lighting section

2 to argue then move it to the Electricals section

7 to point out spelling/grammar errors in posts about changing light bulbs

5 to flame the spell checkers

3 to correct spelling/grammar flames

6 to argue over whether it's "lightbulb" or "light bulb" ... another 6 to condemn those 6 as stupid

2 industry professionals to inform the group that the proper term is "lamp"

15 know-it-alls who claim they were in the industry, and that "light bulb" is perfectly correct

19 to post that this forum is not about light bulbs and to please take this discussion to a lightbulb forum

11 to defend the posting to this forum saying that we all use light bulbs and therefore the posts are relevant to this forum

36 to debate which method of changing light bulbs is superior, where to buy the best light bulbs, what brand of light bulbs work best for this technique and what brands are faulty

7 to post URL's where one can see examples of different light bulbs

4 to post that the URL's were posted incorrectly and then post the corrected URL's

3 to post about links they found from the URL's that are relevant to this group which makes light bulbs relevant to this group

13 to link all posts to date, quote them in their entirety including all headers and signatures, and add "Me too"

5 to post to the group that they will no longer post because they cannot handle the light bulb controversy

4 to say "didn't we go through this already a short time ago?"

13 to say "do a Google search on light bulbs before posting questions about light bulbs"

1 forum lurker to respond to the original post 6 months from now and start it all over again.

 

[bulbboy]

Love it!

 

[doctorjj]

The flickering associated with older linear style fluorescent lights, which did flicker between 60-100 Hz, could be associated with triggering epileptic seizures and migraines. Modern CFL's "flicker" at a rate of 60,000 Hz and modern linear fluorescents flicker at a rate of 50,000 Hz. Both of those flicker rates are well above what the eyes or nervous system can detect.

If you get migraines under CFL's, it's much more likely due to glare, contrast, or improper lighting and lighting design, all of which are proven to be migraine triggers, rather than a phenomenon of the "flicker" associated with the bulb design.

BB,
As for your anecdotal report of CFl's triggering your migraines, my advice would be for you not to expose yourself to CFL's. However, that being said, without a double blinded study there is no way to rule out other causes for your migraine trigger.

I think I fit into most of bettingpython's categories. LOL!!!

 

[Nraman]

Fluorescent lights create flicker on CRT type computer monitors. To avoid the flicker the monitor refresh rate has to be over 60Hz.
Easy to do. Takes seconds.

 

[BadgeBunny]

The flickering associated with older linear style fluorescent lights, which did flicker between 60-100 Hz, could be associated with triggering epileptic seizures and migraines. Modern CFL's "flicker" at a rate of 60,000 Hz and modern linear fluorescents flicker at a rate of 50,000 Hz. Both of those flicker rates are well above what the eyes or nervous system can detect.

If you get migraines under CFL's, it's much more likely due to glare, contrast, or improper lighting and lighting design, all of which are proven to be migraine triggers, rather than a phenomenon of the "flicker" associated with the bulb design.

BB,
As for your anecdotal report of CFl's triggering your migraines, my advice would be for you not to expose yourself to CFL's. However, that being said, without a double blinded study there is no way to rule out other causes for your migraine trigger.

I think I fit into most of bettingpython's categories. LOL!!!

LOL ... I try to avoid everything that I have figured out causes me problems ... Some of the things I have been told by doctors over the last couple of years have just floored me though! Like there are no such thing as migraine headaches because you don't have a light in your brain. It hasn't killed you so it must not be that bad ... Weather changes don't cause headaches, when I have kept a headache log for months that even the most OCD among us would be proud of ...

I agree that more studies need to be done, but life has taught me that there will always be people who do not fit the criteria of the "majority" and still have problems ... I seem to be oddball ... imagine that!

I, like you, found way too many things that hit too close to home in BP's post ...

 

[doctorjj]

Maybe keeping a headache log is what triggers your headaches??? LOL!!!

Seriously though, I feel for migraine sufferers. My mom suffers from them frequently. I know it really sucks.