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Because many people with lyme and environmental toxins, etc. have sensitivity to light and electromagnetic radiation as a symptom of their illness, I thought we should sign this petition against banning incandescent bulbs in favor of fluorescents (which are also a hazard to dispose of due to the mercury).
I found this petition along with links to some articles on the irlen.com website when I was researching lenses to try and decrease the problem so I can actually enter doctor's offices! :
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wow. Thanks Lola. Those fluorescent bulbs are not all that!
Posts: 797 | From New York | Registered: Feb 2008
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Keebler
Honored Contributor (25K+ posts)
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Any kind of fluorescent light triggers seizures for me - even in people's homes. Some in the UK are finding this to be the case, too. But "a small number" of people may not count for much in the big picture.
Energy-saving light bulbs could trigger migraines, say campaigners.
The Migraine Action Association says members have told them how fluorescent bulbs have led to attacks.
The government is set to prevent the sale of conventional light bulbs within the next four years in a bid to cut carbon dioxide emissions.
Concerns have already been raised by epilepsy charities about an increased risk of seizures from energy-saving bulbs.
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"We would ask the government to avoid banning them completely, and still leave some opportunity for conventional bulbs to be purchased."
Karen Manning Migraine Action Association
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Some bulbs use similar technology to fluorescent strip lights, and some users have complained that there can be a "flickering" effect.
They use approximately a quarter of the energy of conventional bulbs, and in September, Environment Secretary Hilary Benn said that a voluntary agreement with retailers would remove all conventional bulbs from the shops by December 2011.
However, Karen Manning, from the Migraine Action Association, said this could be damaging to some sufferers.
She said that up to six million people in the UK suffer from some sort of migraine attacks.
"These bulbs do trigger migraines for some of our members - it's either the flickering, or the low intensity of the light, causing eye strain.
"We would ask the government to avoid banning them completely, and still leave some opportunity for conventional bulbs to be purchased."
Old technology
However, the Lighting Association, which represents bulb manufacturers, said that the latest energy-saving bulbs did not produce a flicker.
A spokesman said: "A small number of cases have been reported by people who suffer from reactions to certain types of linear fluorescent lamps.
"These were almost certainly triggered by old technology."
Last year the charity Epilepsy Action reported that a small number of people with the illness could have seizures triggered by low-energy bulbs.
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