Do all normal light bulbs emit UV rays and radiation?
All fluorescent lights emit a small amount of ultraviolet, which is generally not considered harmful. It’s less than sunlight. There are some special bulbs that reduce UV to a very low level. They’re expensive, and not necessary in most circumstances. From GE: Lamp manufacturers generally strive to minimize ultraviolet light (UV) radiation in all lamps used in general lighting applications. The amount of UV produced by standard fluorescent lamps, such as those in your office, home, or school, is not hazardous and does not pose a major health concern. In fact, a paper by the National Electrical Manufacturers Association (NEMA) explores this subject in more detail. It cites a study in which it was determined that UV exposure from sitting indoors under fluorescent lights at typical office light levels for an eight-hour workday is equivalent to just over a minute of exposure to the sun in Washington, D.C. on a clear day in July. Some applications require the absence of UV. To completely el
Incandescent lights (the kind Edison invented) don’t make much UV. They do use a lot of energy (compared to fluorescent), and over half of it comes out as heat. Nobody has invented a fluorescent light that gives out white light. They did have one that gave off UV. It was found that if this was put inside a tube coated on the inside with phosphorus the phosphorus would be excited by the UV and emit white light. That’s pretty much how all the fluorescent ones work. They put out a little heat and UV, but very little. LED’s are probably the light of the future. They are low voltage (12VDC and 24VDC), so they have to be adapted, but that’s no bigger deal than your cell phone charger. They last much longer than any other kind and use much less electricity. They aren’t as cheap, so you have to figure out your own economics. One thing good about them is that if you’re using any “green” energy, like wind, water or solar, they’re just perfect for that.
