Editor:
Several years ago, in order to save energy, we were told to replace our incandescent light bulbs with fluorescents (CFLs). When they burned out we were supposed to return them for hazardous waste disposal because they contain mercury – how much of this mercury went to landfills instead and, of the CFLs returned, how much energy was consumed in disposal?
Now we’re told to replace incandescents and CFLs with LED bulbs but aren’t being told these may be even more hazardous. According to Alexander Wunsch, a world-class expert in photobiology, the short wave blue light from LED bulbs is harmful to mental, retinal and hormonal health. He states that “blue light can spur on the development of age-related macular degeneration.”
As early as 1987, cancer researcher Richard Stevens warned that nocturnal artificial light causes reduction of melatonin, thereby increasing the likelihood of cancer. A University of Cologne evaluation of studies from around the world found that night workers had a 70 per cent increased risk for breast cancer and 40 per cent for prostate cancer. Dr. Wunsch recommends wearing eyeglasses with blue light blockers, especially at night.
Incandescent light (which includes halogen light) is much closer to sunlight than LED light. It contains all parts of the visible spectrum in more balanced amounts. And frequent switching on and off doesn’t reduce the lifespan of incandescents near as much as it does for so-called “energy saving” bulbs. Learn more about LED light from a YouTube video of Dr. Wunsch.
Susan Fletcher, Sechelt
