Thursday, January 10, 2013

Study: CFLs & Skin Cancer



CFL Bulbs May Increase Skin Cancer Risk: Keep a Safe Distance


News Stories

1) Energy-Efficient Light Bulbs Might Cause Skin Damage, Study Suggests

Energy-efficient compact fluorescent lights have some health risks.

Marc Lallanilla, LiveScience, Jan 4, 2013

http://www.livescience.com/25999-cfl-uv-radiation-skin.html


2) Some Energy-Efficient Lightbulbs May Boost Risk of Skin Cancer

Energy-efficient compact fluorescent lamp (CFLs) light bulbs may emit alarmingly high levels of ultraviolet radiation, increasing risk of skin cancer.

Makini Brice, Medical Daily, Jan 7, 2013
 

Should you be scared?
  
Scott Rosenfield, Men's Health, Jan 9, 2013

http://news.menshealth.com/fluorescent-light-bulbs-cancer/2013/01/09/



Journal Article

The Effects of UV Emission from Compact Fluorescent Light Exposure on Human Dermal Fibroblasts and Keratinocytes In Vitro

Mironava, T., Hadjiargyrou, M., Simon, M. and Rafailovich, M. H. (2012), The Effects of UV Emission from Compact Fluorescent Light Exposure on Human Dermal Fibroblasts and Keratinocytes In Vitro. Photochemistry and Photobiology, 88: 14971506. doi: 10.1111/j.1751-1097.2012.01192.x.

Abstract

Compact fluorescent light (CFL) bulbs can provide the same amount of lumens as incandescent light bulbs, using one quarter of the energy. Recently, CFL exposure was found to exacerbate existing skin conditions; however, the effects of CFL exposure on healthy skin tissue have not been thoroughly investigated. In this study, we studied the effects of exposure to CFL illumination on healthy human skin tissue cells (fibroblasts and keratinocytes). Cells exposed to CFLs exhibited a decrease in the proliferation rate, a significant increase in the production of reactive oxygen species, and a decrease in their ability to contract collagen. Measurements of UV emissions from these bulbs found significant levels of UVC and UVA (mercury [Hg] emission lines), which appeared to originate from cracks in the phosphor coatings, present in all bulbs studied. The response of the cells to the CFLs was consistent with damage from UV radiation, which was further enhanced when low dosages of TiO2 nanoparticles (NPs), normally used for UV absorption, were added prior to exposure. No effect on cells, with or without TiO2 NPs, was observed when they were exposed to incandescent light of the same intensity.

http://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1111/j.1751-1097.2012.01192.x/abstract