Weekly John Locke Foundation research division newsletter focusing on environmental issues.
The newsletter highlights relevant analysis done by the JLF and other think tanks as well as items in the news.
1. Fluorescent light bulbs: and you thought it was only the mercury that was dangerous
Just when you thought that, due to the toxic mercury in the curly fluorescent bulbs we are all being required to use, you actually had to break one in order to be put at risk, it has now been discovered that you simply need to be in the glow of their presence.
While it’s already been reported that the bulbs can cause migraines, dizziness, and loss of focus, it has now been discovered that, because of the intense UV radiation that they give off, they can also cause skin cancer. This is the conclusion of a study out of Stony Brook University in New York. According to a story from NewsMax:
The scientists, led by Miriam Rafailovich, collected CFL bulbs from across Long Island to measure the amount of UV the bulbs gave off. They were alarmed that many of the bulbs’ phosphor coatings were lacking, causing them to leak significant levels of UVC and UVA… "Our study revealed that the response of healthy skin cells to UV emitted from CFL bulbs is consistent with damage from ultraviolet radiation," said Rafailovich.
2. Ozone Report
The 2012 ozone season began on April 1 and each week during the ozone season this newsletter reports how many, if any, high ozone days have been experienced throughout the state during the previous week, where they were experienced, and how many have been recorded during the entire season to date. The ozone season will end on October 31. All reported data is from the North Carolina Division of Air Quality, which is part of the state’s Department of Environment and Natural Resources.
During the period July 16 to July 22, there were no reported high ozone readings on any of North Carolina’s ozone monitors. Since the beginning of the ozone season, there have been 105 high ozone readings on North Carolina monitors.
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