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Forums > Green Building Forums > General Forum - Residential > Subject: CFL's Macular Degeneration and Lampshades

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Mel55

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Posts:2

09/08/2008 10:03 PM
I apologize in advance if this is silly. Thought I'd ask. Some people have linked (?evidence) CFL use with children and later life macular degeneration because of a peak of light intensity in a particular wavelength. A very silly question - what happens to that particular wavelength peak when you put a lampshade over the lightbulb? Does color matter?

Brock

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09/08/2008 10:18 PM
I haven't heard of that one, any links? I have heard of light sensitivity, in part because of the spikes in wavelength your pupils don't dilate as much and it takes them longer to "rebound". Sort of like looking at an eclipse directly, yours eyes think it isn't very bring but your still getting tons of IR and UV and that can get them a "sunburn" or worse so to speak. That could be a myth as well, but it sounds plausible anyway. Also once the light bounces around it tends to smooth off those spikes, so yes I would think a lamp shade would help, or even a frosted glass cover. More importantly don’t stare at a CF or any light :) I say this as I stare at a computer montior...

Green Bay, WI. - 4 ton horizontal, 16k gallon indoor pool, 1.8kw solar PV setup, 3400 sq ft

Mel55

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09/08/2008 10:51 PM
A quick somewhat footnoted online discussion: (shall look for more proper references later) http://www.organicconsumers.org/forum/lofiversion/index.php?t221.html I've seen other references elsewhere, but don't remember where offhand... The overall decrease in intensity from a lamp shade through diffusion (inser proper technical term here) of light is a bit different than what I was thinking of in terms of decreasing a specific wavelength peak, which would be a function of color of lamp shade (I would think, but don't know... thus the question...) One would assume that a lampshade of a given color would allow certain wavelengths to pass but not others, thus the resultant color, and perhaps some colors of lampshades would be protective against the presumed risk?

James Eggert User is Offline

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09/08/2008 11:23 PM
HUH!! This is a Residential Construction Forum. You couldn't find a better place to post this instead of here??

Take Care Jim Design/Build/Consulting "Not So Big" Design Proponent

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