What Makes a Safe Light Bulb – The Definitive Guide

Have you ever thought about whether your light bulbs are safe or giving off EMF radiation?

Newer light bulbs that have been developed to be more energy efficient, are actually some of the worst offenders.

Lighting are a big part of indoor spaces, and probably one of the biggest investments you can when you are renovate or making a brand new home. It takes time, energy, and money to decide exactly how you light up your indoor space — and it creates the light environment that you’re going to live in day after day.

Because you turn these on at night, extending your “daylight” hours, the type of light bulb you choose to fit your home in determines the quality of your environment.

Brief history of light bulbs

Thomas Edison is credited with inventing the first light bulb in 1878. They relied on the heat generated by a tungsten wire contained in a glass bulb and were called incandescent light bulbs. They are simple, and also generated heat, which can be useful in cooler climates.

As energy-efficiency considerations arose, however, the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) recognised that energy efficient alternatives needed to be made readily available and become the new standard for Americans. It, along with other governments, looked for ways to reduce energy use en masse.

The aim was to accelerate America’s shift from inefficient, dated lighting products to innovative, high-performance products that can save American consumers and business owners money.[r]

On 3 August 2011, the DOE officially announced Philips Electronics North America as the first winner of the L Prize competition with an LED replacement for the 60-watt incandescent bulb.

The $10 million U.S. government prize marked the first government-sponsored technology competition designed to challenge lighting manufacturers to develop high-quality, ultra-efficient solid-state lighting products to replace the common light bulb with energy-saving lighting alternatives.

Philips turned out to be the only official entrant in the competition and the LED bulb retails at $40, far more than people are used to paying for a light bulb. Government support would be crucial to help the LED be competitive in the market. [r]

So this was a big deal. With the backing of government policies and commitment by other governments in the world, traditional light bulbs began to be replaced by a new technology — the light-emitting diode, or LED.

The LED light bulb

the increasingly popular LED bulbs. LED or Light-Emitting Diode bulbs rely on (you guessed it) a diode to produce light. The diode controls the direction of the energy flow. They are illuminated solely by the movement of electrons within a semiconductor material.

An LED contains blue light, a driver, and a fluorescent sheet that covers the blue light by extending the wavelengths producing a more yellowish or orange light. In this way, it is similar to a type of fluorescent light; it can fool your brain into thinking it is a more natural light but does not protect you from the dangers of blue light exposure, especially at night.

There are two primary dangers when it comes to LED light bulbs:

• Exposure to blue light

• Creation of drty electricity (a form of negative EMF) and electromagnetic radiation

The health impact of LEDs

However, research around the health impact of a new lighting technology emerged.

blue light from sources like your phone, laptop, and LED bulbs suppresses melatonin production, the hormone responsible for regulating quality sleep and wakefulness.

Blue light can also induce headaches and migraines, worsening any pain symptoms that you have. It results in eye pain and fatigue, which was commonly called in the 1980s and 1990s as “computer vision syndrome”.

There are countless clinical studies that support the harmful effects of blue light especially for people who prone to headaches or migraine attacks. Researchers have suggested that there is a specific neural pathway from the eyes to the brain—separate from how vision is transmitted—that ultimately causes blue light wavelengths to worsen headache pain and other symptoms.

Some researchers suggest it is the specific wavelength, in and around 480nm, that leads to high discomfort. It creates a pain perception and even enhanced spreading of headache pain across the brain.

Finally, blue light from LEDs can damage your retina.

If you want to learn much more about blue light toxicity, check out these articles:

• Are you living in junk light?

• Study shows light at night increases your risk of type 2 diabetes

• Blue light can cause precocious puberty

CFL Light Bulbs

As mentioned, LEDs are similar to CFL or Compact Fluorescent Light bulbs.

These are even more dangerous, probably the least safe light bulb on the market today. This is because the CFL use an electric current driven through a tube typically containing mercury vapor.

ALL fluorescent light bulbs contain mercury vapor, which emits a lot of UV rays when hit with an electric current. Increased absorption of such UV radiation from CFLs has been linked to a variety of health effects and skin disorders.

One key study showing this direct cause is from 2012 study. Researchers from the State University of New York at Stony Brook showed in a paper that tiny defects in the bulbs can let through UV light that can damage skin cells and lead to cancer. Not one CFL bulb they studied did not have any cracks or defects in the phospor coatings. This meant the bulbs emitted very significant levels of UVC and UVA.

The energy efficient compact fluorescent lights that are commercially available generate radio frequency radiation and ultraviolet radiation, they contain mercury—a known neurotoxin, and they are making some people ill. Instead of promoting these light bulbs governments around the world should be insisting that manufacturers produce light bulbs that are electromagnetically clean and contain no toxic chemicals. — Dr Magda Havas, an expert of EMF radiation, www.weepinitiative.org/LINKEDDOCS/scientific/08_Havas_CFL_SCENIHR.pdf

Last but not least, CFLS produce dirty electricity in your whole-house circuits. Just like LED bulbs, the circuits are not equipped to handle the demand of CFLs, which leads to dirty electricity. This dirty electricity builds up in the wiring of our home flooding it with EMF radiation.

Many people still purchase CFL bulbs for the same reason of energy efficiency and cost. CFL bulbs can provide the same amount of lumens as incandescent light bulbs, using about one quarter of the energy.

incandescent light bulb

To appreciate the difference in lighting, let’s go back to understand what was traditionally used.

60-watt incandescent light bulb is one of the most widely used types of light bulbs by consumers, representing approximately 50% of the domestic incandescent light bulb market.

Although incandescents may not be the most energy-efficient, the safest available lightbulb is the traditional incandescent.

halogen light bulbs

A halogen light bulb is a type of incandescent lamp which uses a halogen gas in order to increase both light output and rated life. These are popular for its moderately high efficiency, quality of light, and high rated life compared to regular incandescent lamps.

How Can You choose the safest light bulb?

Light bulbs are not as innocuous as you might think.

If you have to be indoors and needing light, you don’t want to remain the in dark and shun all lighting sources, including light bulbs, because that can have physical and emotional consequences too.

So what are your options? Try this quick checklist to choose the safest and best light bulb you can and minimize the damaging effects of bad lighting:

• Buy and use traditional incandescent or halogen bulbs. These use traditional heat source to produce a natural warm glow of light.

• If you choose LEDs, choose a warmer-coloured LED bulb. LED-makers are realising the health impacts of too-blue LEDs and racing to come up with warmer-looking alternatives.

• If you have LEDs at home, install them in low-traffic zones. This means you reduce your exposure to toxic LED light, such as walkways, instead of overhead in bedrooms or where you work.

• In high-traffic zones and for light-sensitive tasks (such as sleep), use incandescent or halogen light bulbs. They may not be the most energy efficient, but they will help to reduce the amount of EMF radiation emitted in the spaces that you occupy.     

• Try "blue blocker" or blue-light filtering glasses, but don’t settle for cheap knock offs. TheraSpecs are a great brand, particularly if you already have migraine or another light-sensitive condition.

• Use "night mode" or similar apps that are native settings on your phone and your computer. This can warm the lighting on your device and make it easier on the eyes.

• Turn your phone or computer off at least 2-3 hours before you go to bed.

• Change your light bulbs to warmer tones and colors. Opt for more natural light if possible and avoid/remove fluorescents, if appropriate.

• Give your eyes a break. Look away from your screen at least once every 20 minutes to let your eyes reset. And don’t forget to blink!

• If you must work under an LED, position your desk so that you are next to an open window (at least a crack) and your body can receive full-spectrum light energy. And you can take eye breaks looking out an open window. This is a building biology hack!

References:

1. https://cleantechnica.com/2011/08/04/philips-wins-prestigious-department-of-energy-l-prize/

2. https://www.nationalgeographic.com/culture/article/110803-philips-led-light-bulb-wins-l-prize

3. Tiny defects in CFL light bulbs can let through UV light that can damage skin cells and lead to cancer. https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/abs/10.1111/j.1751-1097.2012.01192.x
   

Study: Toxic chemical exposure during pregnancy linked to serious health issues by elementary school

A study adds to the body of research showing that the mother’s exposure to toxins affects her child’s health well into the growing years. This study is one of the most comprehensive endeavors delving into early-life environmental origins of metabolic risk, further bolstering prior toxicological and epidemiological evidence in this area

Link to study: Prenatal Exposure to Chemical Mixtures and Metabolic Syndrome Risk in Children, jamanetwork.com/journals/jamanetworkopen/fullarticle/10.1001/jamanetworkopen.2024.12040

the study

The researchers looked at 1134 mother-child pairs from 6 European countries (France, Greece, Lithuania, Norway, Spain, and the UK), and their prenatal exposures to common endocrine-disrupting chemicals (EDCs) mixtures. The mean age of the mothers at the birth of their child was 30.7 years, and they were recuited into the study April 1, 2003, and January 30, 2009.

These common toxic chemicals included “metals, organochlorine pesticides, polybrominated diphenyl ethers [that’s PBDEs, or flame retardants], and perfluoroalkyl substances”.

They then measured the children born to the mothers at 6 to 11 years of age. They focused on markers of metabolic syndrome, which combines measurements of blood sugars, lipids such as cholesterol, the existence of fat tissue and the impact on the heart.

We almost always consider health risks from single chemicals, one at a time, as if we are exposed to just one chemical at a time. Here the research team shows that children’s risk for cardiovascular disease and diabetes later in life can be driven by the complex mixtures of endocrine-disrupting chemicals in the body at any moment and it highlights the particular risk of chemical exposures during pregnancy. —Jane Houlihan, the national director of science and health for Healthy Babies Bright Futures

what the researchers found

They found that the exposure to toxins were associated with increased metabolic syndrome risk score and altered proinflammatory proteins, amino acids, and glycerophospholipid levels in childhood.

The childrens’ comprehensive tests had elevated levels of metabolic syndrome at ages 6 to 11. Metabolic syndrome can include obesity, elevated blood pressure, and abnormally high cholesterol and insulin resistance, which is a precursor to type 2 diabetes.

Within the group of children exposed to the highest levels of chemicals, 62% were overweight or obese, compared with 16% of children within the low-risk group.

Moreover, the levels of blood insulin and triglycerides, as well as systolic and diastolic blood pressure, were significantly higher in the high-risk group than in the low-risk group.

Pregnancy and childhood are especially important times to limit exposure to chemicals as the brain and body are in key stages of development. Sign up for a free guide to common pollutants AT HOME that you can reduce now.

11 Baby and Infant Products And Their Common Toxins

Some products come with the territory when you’re expecting a new baby, others are entirely optional but have hidden toxins that you need to be aware of. The list of toxins to avoid is ever-growing and the marketplace a mind field of potential hidden toxicities. Marketing does not always help as it may obscure more than offer helpful information.

Ultimately, this leaves the responsibility to you, mums and dads, to know the ingredients and materials behind your products — what's good for you and baby and what is not.

To cut to the chase, here is a list of the MOST COMMON baby products that you may not know are frequently full of toxins. For all of these products, you can choose better alternatives that are actually safe and support your baby’s biological development.

baby monitors

It would be difficult to actually study the effects of electromagnetic field (EMF) exposure from baby monitors on babies (not to mention the ethics of such a study), but we can infer a lot from the thousands of studies that look at how wireless radiation from cell phones affects children. Moreover, baby monitors tend to be used close to the baby (at least within the same room) and during sleep, which is a critical period of rest and growth for the baby.

If you need a baby monitor, check out this low-EMF baby monitors guide.

Infant car seats

Is your infant car seat treated with flame retardants? Many common baby products such as baby bedding, pillows, mats, and even car seat may be treated with toxic flame retardants, depending on the country of production (that governs regulations). The only way around this is to choose one NOT treated with chemicals and to seek 100% natural materials in your baby bedding.

Plastic baby bottles

Made out of plastic baby bottles, sippy cups, plastic feeding containers contain plasticisers that disrupt hormones. These are the big four (in)famous Phthalates, Bisphenol A (BPA), Polyvinyl Chloride (PVC), Polystyrene

Even after BPA was banned (only for some products, by the way — check out this article for more details) in 2012, its “BPA-free” alternatives (BPS, BPE, BPF, etc.) are just as toxic and harmful. Even low doses of endocrine disruptors can still have an effect.

In order to totally avoid BPA and its alternatives, it’s best to choose products that are not made of plastic, such as stainless steel, hospital-grade silicone, and glass.

Luckily, nowadays many sturdy glass alternatives are available. I used the glass Natural Start baby bottles from Tommee Tippee, and it was such a breeze to clean and scrub glass vs soft plastic too.

Fragrances

Things can get a bit messy especially during the postpartum to early years, and we might rely on our powerful sense of smell for a soothing reminder of calmer things. However, you want to strictly avoid artificial fragrances! Fragrances can contain synthetic chemicals that are derived from harmful sources like coal and petroleum, which can cause skin, respiratory, and even neurological issues. They also contain pthalates are harmful as they are linked to developmental disorders, respiratory issues, and fertility issues

Hand sanitisers

Triclosan is an antimicrobial ingredient often found in hand sanitizers and antibacterial soap) and it has been linked to such a significant impact on the thyroid and reproductive hormones that it’s banned in several countries.

Sunscreen lotion

These common skincare products often contain parabens and phthalates that are harmful, endocrine-disrupting chemicals.

Talcum powder

While talcum powder itself, as a smoothing agent, is generally safe; it is made from talc, a mineral made up mainly of the elements magnesium, silicon, and oxygen. However, it has the potential to be contaminated with asbestos, which is a known carcinogen and instigator of lung disease.

Baby Shampoo

There are more formulations for baby that any parent can keep track of. Look beyond ““gentle” and “pure” to find out the ingredients. One common ingredient, Formaldehyde some baby shampoos, and body washes. Many preservatives actually release formaldehyde (they’re called formaldehyde-releasing preservatives (FRPs)). are used in many personal care products. (Yes, the same found in particleboards that causes lung issues.)

Short-term exposure to formaldehyde may cause watery eyes, burning sensations in the eyes, nose and throat and skin irritation. Formaldehyde and the formaldehyde-releasing preservative, quaternium-15, are significant sensitizers and causal agents of contact dermatitis in children. Even trace amounts are a concern as it is enough to sensitive the body.

Wood-composite furniture

While new “ultra low-emitting” formaldehyde (ULEF) and no-added formaldehyde (NAF) resins were developed, it is a concern especially if youhave just finished a renovation and/or bought new furniture. Formaldehyde is normally present at low levels (less than 0.03 parts per million) in both indoor and outdoor air. It can be many times that usual amount within homes due to the choice of materials and pool ventilation.

new furniture

Likewise, a lot of the materials we use to coat furniture contain solvents, and also other materials to seal them in, that can be harmful. One example can be formaldehyde, this is a chemical that’s used in furniture polishes and stains. Off-gassing can last long after your furniture loses its new shine.

It’s not a good idea for the postpartum phase if you’re going to be ensconced with baby in a small space, breathing in these fumes.

References & resources

1. Weatherly LM, Gosse JA. Triclosan exposure, transformation, and human health effects. J Toxicol Environ Health B Crit Rev. 2017;20(8):447‐469. doi:10.1080/10937404.2017.1399306

EMF Exposure and Your Testicals, Testosterone, and Male Fertility

EMFs and Your Testicles

One of the most vulnerable organs to the RF-EMR is the testes.

This is due to the fact that testicular tissues are more susceptible to oxidative stress due to a high rate of cell division and mitochondrial oxygen consumption.

The biological effects of RF-EMR from wireless devices can be categorized as thermal and non-thermal.

First of all, it gets hot in there.

As it cannot effectively dissipate excess heat, testes are also susceptible to thermal effects from wireless radiation. The heat comes from how close your device is to your body.

Heat is also created when you are on the mobile phone conversing for extended periods of time, especially in POOR connectivity areas. This is because your phone emits at greater power to try to stay connected.

Researchers have found at least two ways that wireless radiation harms the sperm. As the cell proliferate, replication errors occur, resulting in DNA fragmentation in the sperm. Moreover, the cell needs to consume more increased oxygen, which increases the level of oxidative phosphorylation by-products (free radicals) in the mitochondria.

RF-EMR have been observed to cause:

• aberrations in the testes

• testicular tissue atrophy

• decreased testosterone levels,

• and a subsequent deterioration in sperm quality,

• including decreased motility in sperm

Thus you can see the concern about electro-pollution, especially from wireless technology and its impact on male reproductive function.

Established health impacts of RF-EMR

Now, the testes isn’t only for fun and reproduction. It is an important organ that generates your body’s supply of male hormones.

Taking care of your testicles is also protecting your personal hormonal balance.

When you’re hormonally out of balance, it is impossible to feel any kind of good in life.

Here are some negative effects of non-native EMFs on human health:

1. Increased Risk of Cancer

Studies show a link between long-term exposure to non-native EMFs and an increased risk of certain types of cancer, such as leukemia and brain tumors.

2. Disruption of Sleep Patterns

Non-native EMFs, particularly those emitted by electronic devices like smartphones and Wi-Fi routers, are associated with sleep disturbances. Exposure to these EMFs before bedtime interfere with the production of melatonin, a hormone that regulates sleep, leading to difficulties falling asleep or disrupted sleep patterns.

3. Impact on Fertility

Studies indicate that non-native EMFs have a negative impact on fertility. Prolonged exposure to EMFs from sources like laptops, cell phones, and wireless devices reduce sperm quality, motility, and viability.

4. Neurological Effects

There is evidence that non-native EMFs may have neurological effects, including increased risk of neurodegenerative diseases like Alzheimer’s and Parkinson’s.

5. Electromagnetic Hypersensitivity (EHS)

Some individuals experience symptoms such as headaches, fatigue, and dizziness when exposed to non-native EMFs. This greatly reduces quality of life and their productivity and vitality at work and in their personal relationships.

Electromagnetic soup of pollution

It’s difficult to avoid the use of mobile phones and it has become an essential part of our daily lives in this modern era. Our phones have gone from simple communication tool to a wireless device with multiple functions to feed literally every aspect of life, such as internet browsing, gaming, video on demand, video conferencing, mobile TV, GPS navigation, and many more. The thing is, wireless tech is, well, wireless. It requires connection to a WiFi point. This means continuous communication from your phone to the antennas in the area.

Wireless radiation is also incredible energy, and 5G - even shorter wavelengths, higher energy - means it will be in our pockets by reproductive organs, by our brain, every street. This is how abnormalities can be caused as the energy messes up cell function and proliferation. It's important to understand by dabbling with these tech, we are dabbling with our health. If we're serious about protecting ourselves from ALL energy weapons, we have to change our habits with our wireless tech devices. E.g. NO airpods. No putting your laptop right on your testes, etc.

Avoiding long-term and excessive use of mobile phone is one way to reduce the detrimental effect of RF-EMR.

Other methods including choosing EMF-proof clothing to protect your most vulnerable organs.

Read the science, watch the videos, and sign up here to eliminate the single most common source of wireless radiation.

References:

• https://doi.org/10.4314%2Faja.v7i1.169488

• Asghari A, Khaki AA, Rajabzadeh A, Khaki A. A review on Electromagnetic fields (EMFs) and the reproductive system. Electron Physician. 2016 Jul 25;8(7):2655-62. doi: 10.19082/2655. PMID: 27648194; PMCID: PMC5014506.

Study Shows Bright Light at Night May Raise Type 2 Diabetes Risk

The glow of a lightbulb or smartphone at night can mess with the body's circadian rhythm. Even exposure to artificial light at night, whether it be yellow light from your reading lamp or blue light from your smartphone or TV, can make it harder to fall asleep.

Now, a new study suggests that exposure to artificial light after midnight may raise the risk of developing type 2 diabetes.

the study

research was conducted among nearly 85,000 people, between the ages of 40 and 69, who wore devices on their wrists, day and night for one week, to track their exposure to different levels of light.

The health of the cohort was tracked for as long as nine years.

Those volunteers who later went on to develop type 2 diabetes were more likely to have been exposed to light between 12:30 am and 6:00 am, during the week-long study period.

study conclusions

While this study cannot prove the cause-effect connection, they do reveal a relationship between brighter light in the middle of the night and the risk of a metabolic disorder.

Those participants in the top 10 percent for light exposure at night had as much as a 67 percent higher risk of developing type 2 diabetes than those in the bottom 50th percentile.

the researchers conclude:

“Advising people to avoid night light is a simple and cost-effective recommendation that may ease the global health burden of type 2 diabetes.”

One major limitation of the study is that researchers were not able to take into account meal times, which can have an impact on both circadian rhythms and glucose tolerance.

Interestingly, light at night itself can trigger insulin resistance, as another study found. Another experiment suggest that when melatonin is disrupted and the circadian rhythm is thrown out of whack, it can lead to the pancreas secreting less insulin. This could be a contributing factor to the development of diabetes. So those two other factors are also linked.

References:

1. The study was published in The Lancet Regional Health – Europe. https://www.thelancet.com/journals/lanepe/article/PIIS2666-7762(24)00110-8/fulltext

Is your light environment good for you? Are you sensitive to blue light? Are you suffering from “blue light toxicity” at home or at work? Get in touch to upgrade your light at home.

Studies on quats: Can Hand Sanitisers Harm Your Fertility?

“Quats,” short for quaternary ammonium compounds. They’ve been part of cleaning products for decades.

Because they were invented before most toxin regulations came into place, quats are mostly “grandfathered” into the chemicals used today.

Researchers are finding more and more about the harms of quats, including on fertility. In this article, we go over what research has found out about quats.

According to a pivotal study by researchers from Virginia Tech University and the Edward Via College of Osteopathic Medicine, quats is a common ingredient in cleaning supplies that undermined fertility in both male and female mice.

the study

For the study, the researchers exposed female and male mice to quats. These were a mixture of two common quats  – alkyl dimethyl benzyl ammonium chloride (ADBAC) and didecyl dimethyl ammonium chloride (DDAC).

After five weeks of daily exposure to the quat mix, female mice spent significantly less time in heat, and after eight weeks of exposure, ovulated less frequently and produced fewer viable embryos than female mice in the control group, the scientists reported.

They found that quats appeared to impair the reproductive systems of male mice even more dramatically.

quats were used to clean the mice cages and floors

The scientists fed small amounts of the quat mix to one group of male mice for eight days.

A second group of males wasn’t dosed deliberately but for seven weeks was housed in a facility where lab staffers conducted routine cleaning with the disinfectants.

In both groups, the male mice showed lower sperm concentrations and fewer swimming sperm than a control group of mice that was not exposed to the two quat chemicals under investigation.

You can read the study published in the journal Reproductive Toxicology here.

quats harm on fertility

This adds to earlier studies linking quats to fertility risks. An earlier study by research teams from Virginia Tech and Washington State University, found that female mice exposed to the quat combination took longer to achieve pregnancy, developed fewer pregnancies. and gave birth to smaller litters.

That December 2014 study has an interesting origin story. One of its lead researchers, Hrubec, noticed that the mice in her lab were reproducing less frequently. She only discovered the link after suspecting her lab assistants’ habit of wetting their hands with quat-laced disinfectant before handling the mice!

That brought Hrubec to an article in the journal Nature about Patricia Hunt, a prominent geneticist at Washington State, who had made similar observations in her own lab in 2005.

(Hunt is famed for another lab accident, back in 1998, that led her to discover that the endocrine-disrupting chemical bisphenol A was leaching from her lab animals’ plastic water bottles into their bodies. She told EWG in 2008 that BPA exposure scrambled the chromosomes in the animals’ eggs, rendering them infertile.)

post-pandemic increase in exposure to quats

During the pandemic, many people loaded up on disinfectants, hand sanitizers, and sanitizing wipes to keep possible viruses at bay.

It even changed many people’s habits to preferring sanitisers over simple hand washing, believing that the chemical wash helps them avoid getting sick.

However, now people are exposed to quats because of widespread use of these chemicals in homes, offices, stores, schools, medical facilities and elsewhere. EWG’s research on school cleaning supplies revealed quat-containing cleaners used in multiple school districts in California.

Quats are well-documented allergens and can cause otherwise healthy individuals to develop asthma.

It is highly ironic if, in a bid to rid ourselves of exposure to possible viruses, we expose ourselves to definite toxins and develop lung diseases and breathing difficulties instead.

References

1. Exposure to common quaternary ammonium disinfectants decreases fertility in mice, https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S0890623814001920

2. EWG’s Guide to Healthy Cleaning lists more than 250 cleaning products that contain quats.