Is the UV radiation from CFLs harmful?
CFLs do emit higher levels of UV radiation than traditional lightbulbs, but for ordinary household use this is not something to worry about – spending time in the sun is far more harmful to your skin. The Australian Radiation Protection and Nuclear Safety Agency has studied a range of lightbulbs and found that the highest UV levels, measured at a distance of 10cm over a period of eight hours, are equivalent to spending approximately six minutes in the midday summer sunshine in Brisbane or seven minutes in Melbourne. The study also found that UV emissions from all lamps decrease rapidly with distance. So for most of us that means we don’t need to consider these light bulbs any differently. However, there are some circumstances in which people need to exercise caution. Those who may work in close proximity to lamps, such as jewellers or mechanics, and people with photosensitive skin diseases such as lupus should avoid getting too close to CFLs. The Department of the Environment, Water, H
