The Low Spark of High-Ideal bulbs

Q: How many countries does it take to screw up a light bulb?

A: More and more each year.

Required light bulbs may pose health hazard

With potatoes, green means stop
Flourescent lights in groceries cause the potatoes to produce chlorophyl and solanine. Solanine makes potatoes taste bitter and can cause digestive problems (or paralasis and coma, nice). A simple solution may be to keep potatoes in the dark, or at least out of the flourescent glare. But-

Some scientists are working on ways to suppress the production of glycoalkaloids in potato plants. Researchers have found a gene that prompts plants to make an enzyme necessary for producing glycoalkaloids. By inserting a "backwards" copy of the gene, one which interferes with the natural gene's instructions, scientists have engineered potato plants whose production of toxins is turned down.

Hell, we gotta genetically alter our spuds instead? Is it just me or are things getting too complicated with these flourescents?

Sufferers may shun eco-bulbs

The compact fluorescent lights, or CFLs, have been linked to migraines, epilepsy and the auto-immune disease lupus.
The British Association of Dermatologists has claimed the bulbs emit wavelengths of light that can trigger eczema or skin cancer in people with light-sensitive conditions.

LED Astray

Nevertheless, even if you used all fluorescents, the savings on your next light bill would hardly be noticed. Newfoundland Power says that lighting cost amounts to only four per cent of our bills. A penny saved is a penny earned, but in this case will be the price to pay for polluting the environment with deadly mercury?

These lights can be hazardous to people's health, and that they are toxic, is saving a couple cents worth it?

http://itn.co.uk/news/f6313327fa7548cc14d55c1bc7a75c59.html
Low Engery Bulbs a 'health risk'

This article goes as far as claiming that fluorescent lights can cause skin cancer. In my opinion this is an exageration. Fluorescent lights can flare up skin conditions like eczema and make a person more prone to developing skin cancer but as far as I kjnow it has not been proven that fluorescent lights can cause cancer. I doubt that fluorescent lights would be good for anyone suffering from skin cancer.

http://ukpress.google.com/article/ALeqM5jIRWnmHwKYljh8ASdsjL_HkBjv2Q
Health warning on low-energy bulbs

"Certain forms of eczema - some of which are very common - do flare up badly anywhere near fluorescent lights, so these people have to just be around incandescent lights."

A much smaller number of patients with very severe light sensitivity are unable to tolerate exposure to the small amount of ultra-violet light given off by the new-style bulbs, he added.

There are a "significant number" of people in the UK who are already unable to visit or work in buildings with fluorescent lighting, said Prof Hawk, adding: "It is people who will have to be exposed to them in their homes that we are worried for, and I very strongly suggest that incandescent bulbs remain available for use in the home."

http://www.theglobeandmail.com/servlet/story/LAC.20080105.COLOUR05/TPStory/Entertainment
Shedding Light on CFLs

Everyone fixates on the fact that it is almost 10 times as energy-efficient. Because of this, we are supposed to forget that many fluorescents have a flicker issue that negatively affects some people. They have a start-up time lag so they are not good to use over your stairs if you are always in a rush. Most can't be used outside when it is really cold. Unless you buy a special "three-way" CFL, they can't be dimmed. All contain small amounts of mercury (be very careful if you break one!) so they cannot be thrown out. And, except for Ikea, most stores are happy to sell them but will not take them back for recycling.
But worst of all is their light content. They give off a diffuse light, more like a cloudy day than a sunny one, which is depressing. (And if you have the misfortune to spend your days under large swaths of fluorescent lighting, be sure to get away from it on your lunch break. It makes us tired and depressed. To cope with fluorescent light, our endocrine glands pump out cortisol, a stress hormone. When it is exhausted, we are more susceptible to colds and illness.)

Even the "soft white" CFLs do not give off the same warm tones and crisp light we are used to. They make existing colours look wrong.

http://www.canada.com/chilliwacktimes/news/letters/story.html?id=b857e59d-b20a-4093-8d45-e196f0fffd5a

http://www.dogflu.ca/01052008/06/low_energy_light_bulbs_pose_health_risks_for_people_with_skin_conditions
Includes a photo of effected skin.

http://www.sundaymail.co.uk/news/uk-and-international-news/2008/01/06/eczema-nightmare-as-brits-move-to-low-energy-bulbs-78057-20276009/
Eczema nightmare as Brits move to low energy bulbs.

http://www.dallasnews.com/sharedcontent/dws/dn/opinion/points/stories/DN-ferguson_06edi.ART.State.Edition1.376b35c.html
Sucked by the Swirl

http://www.tech.co.uk/gadgets/other/news/are-eco-friendly-bulbs-causing-migraines?articleid=853924124
Are Eco-friendly light bulbs causing Migraines?

http://www.engadget.com/2008/01/02/are-compact-fluorescent-bulbs-causing-migraines/