By Dr. Eli Stern

November 2009

• Recent articles published in various printed and electronic media referred to recommendations made by the Inter-ministerial Expert Committee on Carcinogenic, Teratogenic and Mutagenic Materials regarding compact fluorescent lights (CFL). The document containing the recommendations made by the Ministry of Health's expert committee included a detailed, professional explanation of the recommendations made by the British Health Protection Agency (which are also referenced by other international, professional agencies), and stated:

   As an interim precaution, a recommendation was made in the UK

   to limit exposure to compact fluorescent bulbs. This means that it is

   desirable for a person exposed to bulbs of this type for more than 

   one hour per day, to be at least 30 centimeters (12 inches) from the

   bulb. This warning does not apply to encapsulated (double envelope)

   compact fluorescent bulbs that are protected by an outer glass

   container.

• The Ministry of Health was advised to consider the cautious (even gradual) adoption of the British recommendations in Israel. The recommendations of the committee, like the British recommendations, do not mention any limitation on the location of the bulbs. With the aforementioned simple recommendation to keep the recommended distance (only 30 centimeters for length exposure or encapsulated bulbs), there is no reason not to place the bulbs in any location, including desk lamps, wall lamps and reading lamps installed next to beds, in particular. 

• The recommendations were published based on the measurements made in the UK that showed extremely close exposure to some, but not all, CFLs may cause exposure to UV radiation that exceeds the threshold levels set by the International Commission on Non-Ionizing Radiation Protection (ICNIRP). These threshold levels were set to protect people exposed to UV radiation from additional risk of skin malignancies.

• It should be noted that the aforementioned British recommendations rightfully did not in any way go against the European and international trend to gradually end the use of familiar incandescent bulbs and replace them with power-saving bulbs, like those under consideration. This trend is reflected in extensive legislative and regulatory activity. Implementation is currently beginning.

• Clearly, the aforementioned trend is based on the substantial savings in electricity resulting from the use of CFLs. The direct result of using less electricity is reduction in the quantity of hothouses gasses emitted into the environment and less air pollution. Emission of these pollutants causes proven health risks.

• Notes:

1. All of the above relates solely to exposure to UV radiation emitted by CFLs and not to the relatively small population segment that has a specific (long-recognized) sensitivity to fluorescent lighting of any type.
2. The above does not relate to measures that must be taken if a CFL breaks.

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