Are Compact Fluorescent Lamps safe?

Within 3 months of installing 30 so called energy-efficient lightbulbs: Compact Fluorescent Lamps (CFLs) a US technician, who researchers cutting-edge clean technology, was troubled by exceptional ill health. These 30 lightbulbs were installed in his home and during these three months he and his family all developed unusual health problems including chronic migraines, nausea, skin rashes and arthritic-like conditions. He even has 3 months of medical expenses due to doctor's visits to find out the source of their pain and physical suffering to prove it ("we can't find anything wrong").  In the end, all it took to cure their ills was the removal of all 30 lamps from their home. The whole family was free of their nagging health problems within two days!

This technician is a member of a new non-profit organisation and had been asked to discover if there are any health issues associated with CFLs. When he recently presented his finding at a special "emergency" board meeting (the organisations identity is hidden to "protect" the guilty) he says it was like "I walked into a buzz-saw." He was told that if he mentioned or talked about his findings to anyone, while wearing his board hat, that either he or about 4 others would be removed from the board. He is in fact the treasurer and all the research for the organization, getting the 501(3)c paperwork processed etc, had been paid out of his own pocket."

Read the technicians report on the risks from CLF's and how hazards are kept quiet...

"What brought the CLF hazards issue up, was that one of the sponsors was going to withdraw their funds if I "badmouthed" CFLs. That corporation has sold over 100 million of these CFLs so far. I said it is not good for us to be held hostage by a sponsor, when we find out that a product being sold (or given away) turns out to be a health and fire hazard. I was told I was a radical. I wear that badge with honor and accepted that gladly!

"I barely got into my presentation, when I was essentially shouted down by 4 other board members (3 are from a local PUD and the other is from a natural gas company). I was told there is no scientific evidence (even after looking at the book I brought in from Bonneville Power Administration published in 2006 on electro smog and they also trashed Dr. Magda Havas' evidence), just anecdotal stories. One said she would never, ever hire someone like me or allow me to represent the non-profit in any capacity in public. And then I was quoted about the Federal mandates the PUD has to comply with in saving energy, using CFLs, like it was law and they had no choice in the matter.  They were rather passionate and actually, now that I think about it, nearly hysterical about it. I never witnessed so much weeping, wailing and gnashing of teeth over my own experiences relating to the negative health effects of living with CFLs in my own home.

"I had "someone in authority" re-read what the mission statement of the organization we had previously voted on a few weeks ago and I said; "Precisely". That shut the other board members up, but I was unable to complete my presentation. My time was up. I had not anticipated such a strong, negative reaction from those I considered to be associates and friends. I was rather bummed out and dispirited about the episode.

"I have had quite a few other people contact me with the exact same experiences my family had, both from the US and Canada. By removing the CFLs from their homes, the problems went away. Some have written that when they bought more CFL bulbs and added them, the health issues came back immediately and they had to remove them again. It did not matter which manufacturer they bought them from. The "me too" list is growing exponentially. Anecdotes beat scientific studies hands down any day, in my book. When there are hundreds and thousands of "witnesses" (and indeed, there are), we are on to something big!

"What really upset the board members was my facetious list of reasons for promoting CFLs that I afterwards posted in Pure Energy Systems Wiki under "Downsides".  Apparently, it is not so facetious anymore. Sadly, it turns out to be very, very true... I predict that we will see an international backlash against CFLs, not because they are mandated by the governments of the world, not because they are manufactured only in Red China, or because they do not last as long as advertised or because they cost so much more than incandescents, but because they emit UV, EMI and RFI electro smog, detrimental to human health and well-being. And yes, in spite of at least 4 product recalls, there are class-action suits against at least one manufacturer. I expect more to quickly follow.

"Just because an electronic device has a UL or other test label listing, does not mean it has been tested for electro-smog. Why are so many people vested in such a poor product that is being touted as "green", but is so obviously not? Is "reducing energy use and CO2 emissions" more important than our health?

"This issue is not going to go away until CFLs are replaced or improved with better technology. I have  quite a few 4-foot fluorescents also in our house and they never, ever made our bodies react the way the CFLs have.

"When we look at alternative energy solutions, we need to take into account what our bodies are telling us when we are in proximity of those technologies. Remember what happened to those first few who discovered nuclear radioactivity and how long it took for mankind to discover how to protect itself from it?
There are ways to protect our selves from too much electro-smog. In doing this research, this technician discovered textile protection solutions for eco-smog at SwissShield EMI.

"In the case of CFLs, it is much easier and less costly to not buy or use them. I believe the power of the pen is mightier than the sword. In my case, it is about the only "power" I have. That power only exists if those who can read, choose to do so. However, this is more than a "free speech" issue. I refuse to be silent. Our quality of life is at stake here."

Further reading:

Germans hoarding traditional lightbulbs

Leave the room if you break a "green" light bulb

Green lightbulbs poison workers

The search for safe lightbulbs