I just got rid of all those "energy saving" CFL lightbulbs in my house ... here's why

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In a special "emergency" board meeting for a new non-profit (identification hidden to "protect" the guilty) this week, I was asked to present what I had discovered about health issues associated with Compact Fluorescent Lamps (CFLs).

I walked into a buzz-saw.

I was told that if I mentioned or talked about my findings to anyone, while wearing my board hat, that either about 4 others or I would be removed from the board. I am the treasurer and represent (....) on that board. I have been getting the 501(3)c paperwork processed and I have been paying for it out of my own pocket for the organization. (I had volunteered the Alternative Energy User Group earlier so we could fast-track, but I was rebuffed.)

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 t he 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 for 3 months with chronic migraines, nausea, skin rashes and arthritic-like conditions. (I do not have epilepsy or lupus, but folks who do, cannot live with CFLs or fluorescent lighting of any kind.) By removing 30 lamps from our home (we all under our roof experienced these health defects, not just me), the nagging health problems disappeared within 2 days.

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 t he 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 doubt it was taped or recorded. I'm sure it was overheard in other rooms.)

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!

http://peswiki.com/index.php/Directory:Compact_Fluorescent

What really upset the board members was my facetious list of reasons for promoting CFLs that I afterwards posted in the Downsides discussion section located on the Downsides PESWiki page. Apparently, it is not so facetious anymore. Sadly, it turns out to be very, very true.

http://peswiki.com/index.php/Directory:Compact_Fluorescent_Lighting_%28CFL%29_Downsides

I modified the "We believe" list a bit, removing the reference to slave labor in China (it nonetheless is still true, however) and reduced the list from 20 belief points, down to 15. Perhaps I should call them "CFL Articles of Faith"? Yeah, that will do. I just changed the title of the entry on the Discussion page.

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?

Anyway a lot of sweat, blood and tears have gone into revamping and researching the "Downsides" page for PESWiki. Yes, even Sterling (my boss) first figured I was off my rocker (he probably still does). I have 3 months of medical expenses ("we can't find anything wrong"), pain and physical suffering to prove this real and I have discovered that this is not an isolated incident.

This issue is not going to go away until CFLs are replaced or improved with better technology. (BTW, 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, I discovered

SwissShield EMI Protection and Conductivity Solution - Electro smog textile protection using Swicofil -

http://www.swicofil.com/swissshield.html

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.

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This was originally published on my facebook page as a note. There is some more discussion there, which you can check out and I believe it is accessible even if you are not a member of facebook.

Link: http://www.facebook.com/note.php?note_id=64365186553

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See also:

Video: Compact fluorescent light bulbs health effects? (Part 1)

Video: Compact fluorescent light bulbs health effects? (Part 2)

New Zealand scraps ban on traditional lightbulbs

The Dark Side Of CFLs

Greener Lights?

'Green' lightbulbs poison workers
Large numbers of Chinese workers have been poisoned by mercury, which forms part of the compact fluorescent lightbulbs. A surge in foreign demand, set off by a European Union directive making these bulbs compulsory within three years, has also led to the reopening of mercury mines that have ruined the environment.

Doctors, regulators, lawyers and courts in China - which supplies two thirds of the compact fluorescent bulbs sold in Britain - are increasingly alert to the potential impacts on public health of an industry that promotes itself as a friend of the earth but depends on highly toxic mercury.

Low-energy bulbs: a not-so-bright idea (PDF)
Prof Rémy Prud'homme of Paris University
A simple calculation shows that changing bulbs will cause the annual total of CO² emissions to double, passing from 3 million tonnes with filament bulbs to more than 6 million tonnes with low-energy bulbs. Reducing purchasing power by 7 billion euro today in order to emit twice as much CO²?!

LED there be light - new technology for the future

Study warns of green light bulb electrosmog
Swiss health officials are recommending that people stay at least 30 centimetres away from energy-saving light bulbs, over electrosmog concerns.

Low- and medium-frequency magnetic and electric fields can induce electric currents in the body which, above a certain frequency, can stimulate the nerves and muscles.

A New Method of Poisoning Us With Radiation: 'High Efficiency' Light Bulbs

The Dark Side Of CFLs
CFLs should be thought of as toxic technology, when mercury contamination, ultraviolet radiation, and radio frequency radiation are factored in. From cradle to grave, CFLs pose a danger to people's health and well being, as well as adding even more toxicity to the environment. In fact, CFLs do not reduce a person's carbon footprint and may even increase it in some situations. To make matters even worse, CFLs emit harmful levels of electromagnetic radiation.

Video: The foolishness of the environmental movement and congress!
A US Congressman on prohibiting incandescent light bulbs...

An energy saving bulb has gone - evacuate the room now!

Energy-saving light bulbs are so dangerous that everyone must leave the room for at least 15 minutes if one falls to the floor and breaks, a Government department warned...