What Next? Are Green Light Bulbs a Cancer Risk?

In the latest case of “is anything safe these days”, the Health Protection Agency is warning that the curvy little fluorescent energy saving light bulbs are not safe.

The agency says that the potential threat comes from the fact that these long lasting “green” lights give off UV radiation.

UV radiation is around us all the time; it is the main problem with being exposed to sunlight for long periods.

The agency says that there is no real concern with bulbs hanging from the ceiling or up on living room walls.

They are worried about close up exposure, again not a huge problem, you have to be very close to the bulb, but some people could be within a few inches when using the bulbs in reading lights.

They point out however that some professions do need workers to be close to the bulbs all their working day, such as jewellery production workers.

The agency goes on to say that the risk of cancer of the skin is possible, but as they see it at the moment it is more likely that mild “sunburn” would be the most viable effect.

They say that they are just issuing this as a precaution, and they see no “significant risk” of skin cancer.

They go on to say that anyone who is close to the “open” types of these bulbs, the ones that look like small curved fluorescents, not the ones that look like conventional bulbs, may be better off switching to regular bulbs.

They state that more than one hour spent within one foot of these bulbs is like being outside on a sunny day. And being closer than one inch for any length of time could pose a health risk.

Over 20 million of these green bulbs are sold each year in the UK alone.

While we want the government to point out potential dangers in products sold to us, you have to consider that five years from now no one will remember the details of this “precautionary warning” and will only remember that these bulbs could cause skin cancer, pushing people to buy conventional bulbs.

The press release from the agency has more of the feel of a justification for their existence and another example of the nanny state wrapping us in cotton wool, rather than a genuine concern over a highly popular green alternative home appliance.