Fluorescent Lighting and UV Radiation.
The standard office lighting generally in use in the UK today is of the fluorescent tube variety. Technically these tubes and associated luminaries are termed Category 1, 2 or 3 and are designed to direct light downwards away from VDU screens.
Unshielded as these luminaries are, they concentrate the light pattern and the Ultra Violet (U.V.) spectrum that is emitted by the tubes in this downward direction and on to the skin of people who happen to be in that vicinity.
The main components of Ultra Violet radiation are UV-A and UV-B.
The generally held opinion amongst the specialists is that UV-B is responsible for the majority of skin cancers such as melanomas.
U.V. radiation is a major contributor towards skin ageing by chronic cell damage. Also wrinkling of the skin along with collagen damage and ‘sagging’ can all be attributed in some degree to U.V. radiation.
It is fair to say that exposure to the sun is generally accepted as the main cause of premature ageing, however it is being suggested that constant exposure to fluorescent tubes is also a contributory factor.
In a report by the International Commission on Illumination it was suggested that the human mortality risk in the UK from the use of fluorescent tubes is 30 deaths per year. Although this risk is small, it is avoidable.
The main concern is that anyone who has to work or study for lengthy periods of time under unshielded fluorescent lighting, has no control over their environment. This is likely to become a major health issue in the very near future which needs a solution.
The solution is of course LED Lighting. This is the future of lighting throughout the world. By 2020 it is forecast that 90% of all lighting will be LED.
There is a comprehensive range of LED tubes on the market right now. Most are retrofit and need little or no modification to the fluorescent fitting. There are many benefits with LED tubes :-
1/ They do not emit UV radiation
2/ They do not contain harmful substances that need careful disposal.
3/ They run cool.
4/ They are economical to run and reduce the carbon footprint and your bill!
5/ They do not ‘flicker’ and therefore do not cause the associated problems.
6/ They have a great longevity – up to 50,000 hours (15 years at 10 hours per day.) Will not need replacing every few months like fluorescents!
Should you require any further information regarding replacement of your existing fluorescent tubes or just LED Lighting in general, please go to our website at www.theledshopuk.com . If you require advice or a quotation please contact us at sales@theledshopuk.com and we will respond by email or telephone.
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