I'm not to sure about the OP's health issues brought up, but I did see some concerning reports about those lights in reagrds to people with sensitive skin towards UV's.
A couple of people who installed these lights have reported some health issues in regards to their skin. In paticular a couple of them put those lights in their lamps beside where they normally read their books. As they went to bed, they noticed in the bathroom mirror or from a loved one that their skin was seriously burned and they couldn't figure out why.
Eventually they figured out it had something to do with the lights and replaced them with the old ones. Of course, their skin issues went away.
I will see if I can find anything on this report
(It was about two weeks ago)
I guess this will have to do for now:
How Fluorescent Lighting Puts You at Risk for Skin Cancer - Associated Content
"A long term health consequence from being exposed to Fluorescent lighting is from short wave ultraviolet light that it emits. UV emissions from ceiling fixtures have been linked to a higher risks of melanoma skin cancer by the American Journal of Epidemiology. Also, In August 1982 an article was published in the well read British Medical Journal, "The Lancet," entitled "Malignant Melanoma and Exposure to Fluorescent Lighting at Work." The authors of this study examined and determined the possible connection between indoor fluorescent lights and the ever rising rate of melanoma. Taking into account such factors as hair color, skin type and the history of sun exposure it was found that working under fluorescent lights had doubled the risk of melanoma in the subjects of the research."
So this has been an issue for how long now? And now they're telling us to shove these lights everywhere to
"save energy?" How about the random medical costs for some of the people who might be affected by these lights?
What about the Mercury that's contained within these lights? What happens to that Mercury when you dispose of these lights?
Or are we soon going to have yet another damn recycling bin to chuck crap in for these types of lights? How many bins in our home will that be now?
I don't oppose them anymore then I oppose the old fashion light bulbs, but I don't see the big advantage of changing laws around and forcing people to buy one paticular style of lightbulb, esspecially when one has some questionable health effects.
If people want to use one paticular type of light bulb, then let them choose for themselves, don't force it down their throats like some nanny state looking out for our best interests through their own ignorance.
(I'm looking in Ontario's general direction)
Let the markets decide when it's time to toss out the old bulbs or not.
