For proponents of the effort to “go green,” energy conservation is near the top of the priority list. It’s a noble cause…but could it negatively impact your health?
According to the Vancouver Sun, residents in British Columbia are expected to replace incandescent bulbs with energy efficient, compact fluorescent light bulbs.1 Unfortunately some headache and migraine sufferers claim that the light from these energy efficient bulbs exacerbates their head pain. They say there is a small flickering of light that triggers migraine.
The evidence for this head pain is not obvious. Yet a study from Natural Resources Canada revealed that fluorescent lights could intensify light sensitivity, a symptom and trigger of migraine for some. And more recent research from a medical school in Scotland showed that compact fluorescent light bulbs could be dangerous to photosensitive patients.
Additional scientific research has not been conducted to back up these claims. And so far, the government and manufacturers have dismissed it as a health concern.
Are you affected by fluorescent light bulbs? Would you use energy-efficient light bulbs to conserve energy, even if they might trigger a migraine?
Reference:
1. Vancouver Sun.
