Energy saving light bulbs ‘contain cancer causing chemicals
Fears have been reignited about the safety of energy saving light bulbs after a group of scientists warned that they contain cancer causing chemicals. Their report advises that the bulbs should not be left on for extended periods, particularly near someone’s head, as they emit poisonous materials when switched on.
Peter Braun, who carried out the tests at the Berlin’s Alab Laboratory, said: “For such carcinogenic substances it is important they are kept as far away as possible from the human environment.”
The bulbs are already widely used in the UK following EU direction to phase out traditional incandescent lighting by the end of this year. But the German scientists claimed that several carcinogenic chemicals and toxins were released when the environmentally-friendly compact fluorescent lamps (CFLs) were switched on, including phenol, naphthalene and styrene.
Andreas Kirchner, of the Federation of German Engineers, said: “Electrical smog develops around these lamps. “I, therefore, use them only very economically. They should not be used in unventilated areas and definitely not in the proximity of the head.”
British experts insisted that more research was needed and urged consumers not to panic. Dr Michelle Bloor, senior lecturer in Environmental Science at Portsmouth University, told the Daily Express: “Further independent studies would need to be undertaken to back up the presented German research.”
The Department for the Environment insists the bulbs are safe, despite the fact that they contain small amounts of mercury which would leak out if the glass was broken. Advice on its website states: “Energy efficient light bulbs are not a danger to the public. “Although they contain mercury, limited at 5mg per lamp, it cannot escape from a lamp that is intact. “In any case, the very small amount contained in an energy efficient bulb is unlikely to cause harm even if the lamp should be broken.”
TrueblueNZ 
6 responses to “General Debate 22/04/11”
RB, you must repost this:
I usually don’t have much time for Newt but here he absolutely DESTROYS an MSNBC reporter about Palin…
Awesome…
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Pinkofreezone bet the reporter wished the ground would open up and take him from his misery.
Where are all the fucking Melons? This is a perfect example of the cure being worst then the disease, resulting from failed ideology rammed down our throats by retards from the green movement. Brain cancer would be to good for these two bobs.
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Lol, I’ve watched this video 5 times since I found it… Addictive…
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Haha….That was called being “owned” big time!
As for the so-called energy saving, last a lifetime, feed the poor, blah blah blah, lightbulbs….they save energy by blowing out & dimming drastically after only a few months. Useless bloody things, & dangerous too by the sounds of it!
Gimme an incandescent any time!
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” Lol, I’ve watched this video 5 times since I found it… Addictive…”
Damn funny.
I’ll save it and use it at an opportune time Jeremy.
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Looks like the right is finally cottoning on to the fact that the best way to deal with leftist scum journalists is NOT to engage in their talking points, but blunt decapitation with opposing facts, duly repeated at an increasing volume, all the while looking as if somebody just dropped something nasty on the carpet.
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