Citation

Walls HL, Walls KL, Benke G. Am. J. Public Health 2011; 101(12): 2222-2225.

Affiliation

1 The Australian National University.

Copyright

(Copyright © 2011, American Public Health Association)

DOI

10.2105/AJPH.2011.300246

PMID

22021286

Abstract

Increased use of fluorescent lighting as a climate change mitigation strategy may increase eye disease. The safe range of light to avoid exposing the eye to potentially damaging ultraviolet (UV) radiation is 2000 to 3500 K and greater than 500 nanometers. Some fluorescent lights fall outside this safe range. Fluorescent lighting may increase UV-related eye diseases by up to 12%and, according to our calculations, may cause an additional 3000 cases of cataracts and 7500 cases of pterygia annually in Australia. Greater control of UV exposure from fluorescent lights is required. This may be of particular concern for aging populations in developed countries and countries in northern latitudes where there is a greater dependence on artificial lighting. (Am J Public Health. Published online ahead of print October 20, 2011:e1-e4. doi:10.2105/AJPH.2011.300246).

Language: en