Fluorescent Lighting and Physiology

by Norene F. Wedam

December 19, 2007, President George W. Bush signed the Energy Independence and Security Act. This energy policy is being continued under the Barack Obama administration. This legislation will favor fluorescent lighting and phase out the sale of most incandescent light bulbs by the end of 2014.¹ The oversight and enforcement of this policy by the Environmental Protection Agency, the Department of Transportation, the Department of Energy, the Department of the Treasury and other governmental entities proceed without an understanding of how fluorescent light modifies cellular physiology.

According to Dave Asgharian, professional engineer:

Electricity in the United States is based on a 60-hertz alternating current (AC) system. For lighting, the US uses many different types of light bulbs such as incandescent, fluorescent, compact fluorescent, LED, etc. Incandescent bulbs emit light when the heating element inside the bulb, which is called a “filament,” is heated using AC voltage across its terminals. Once the element is hot, it consistently emits light. Incandescent bulbs differ from fluorescent lighting (FL), which has “flicker” in it. With fluorescent lighting, luminance (a measure of light intensity) increases as AC voltage increases from zero to 120 volts. Luminance then decreases as the voltage drops from 120 volts to zero, resulting in darkness. These voltage changes occur 120 times per second.²

This means that, although the luminance appears consistent to the human eye, much more time is actually spent in near-darkness under fluorescent lighting than with incandescent lighting. The eye and the human body must accommodate continuous rapid gradations in brightness.

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Many natural electromagnetic fields are relatively constant and do not adversely

affect our bodies.³ Incandescent light produces steady light with a low and consistent energy field, compared with fluorescent lighting with its changes in lumens (a unit measure of light) and electromagnetic fields. Processing these light intensity and electromagnetic field changes may confuse both the human eye and the brain.

Flicker exists as a change in voltage that causes fluctuating light output.⁴ Although manufacturer claims have been made that newer fluorescent lights eliminate the flicker “effects,” these technologies only eliminate flicker observed by the human eye because they operate at higher frequencies. Higher frequencies mean more frequent voltage fluctuations and increased energy field changes.

Fluorescent light is a pulsating energy source that produces measurable resonant frequencies capable of interacting with the human body on a variety of levels. The effect of the strength of the energy field can be described in terms of the duration of the exposure, the intensity of and the proximity to the source. For example, a 10-watt fluorescent tube produces a magnetic field at least 20 times greater than a 60-watt incandescent bulb.⁵

In biochemistry, form is function. The size and shape of the molecules in the cell and on the cell surface, and the positions of the charges, determine which functions can be performed and which receptors will be accessible and/or responsive. When the energetic and molecular structure of a cell is altered, its receptors and permeability may also change. Voltage interference that alters electrical charges can affect pathways, transmission, and signaling in the cell, on its membrane, or within the neuronal synaptic cleft.

Subtle energies can restructure a liquid crystal.⁶ Since water is a weak biological liquid crystal and major component of the human body, it is reasonable to assume that molecules in bodily systems with high concentrations of water will be most affected.^7,8 When this occurs, crystalline structures no longer oscillate at health-promoting frequencies. Although all cell membranes function as liquid crystals, fatty tissue, muscles, nerves, and lymphatic and bodily fluids are especially affected by asynchronous crystalline configurations.⁹ For example, the normal functioning of the pineal gland, which is responsible for the production of melatonin, dopamine, and serotonin, is disrupted when exposed to anomalous energy fields.¹⁰

Messaging in the body begins bioelectrically before communication is relayed biochemically.¹¹ Peak voltage amplitudes occurring 120 times per second create an abnormal electromagnetic field which stresses a bioelectrical system. After light-initiated biochemical reactions begin, they are disordered by fluorescent light intensity changes. Robert O. Becker, MD, states: “It is well-established that exposure to any abnormal electromagnetic field produces a stress response. If the exposure is prolonged, the stress response system becomes exhausted, and the competency of the immune system declines to below normal. In such a state, animals and humans are more susceptible to cancer and other infectious diseases.”¹²

The electrical charges that open and close channels in the cell membrane to allow water and nutrients to enter the cell and wastes to be excreted occur in response to frequencies emitted by liquid crystals. Ideally, these actions operate smoothly and efficiently so that nutrients are available as needed and toxins are eliminated.¹³ In a

healthy organism, micronutrients are attracted to resonant energy fields emitting opposite polarities. However, when the natural order of the electromagnetic field is disturbed,

disharmony results.¹⁴

During osmosis, water is transported across a semipermeable cell membrane.¹⁵ Channels in the plasma membrane of the cell are regulated by the charge gradient. Response to stimuli depends on achieving the necessary electrical potential threshold to polarize the cell membrane. A completely depolarized membrane is neutral. However, even reduced transmembrane sensitivity limits cellular response. The influence of constantly changing energy fields is a destabilizing force that can alter the crystalline structures in and on the plasma membrane by causing a loss or shifting of charges. Anything that impedes the flow of water and nutrients into cells and the elimination of cellular wastes interferes with health.

Sunshine is a constant and broad-spectrum light wave, not a pulsed energy source. Direct exposure of the skin to sunlight is a traditional source of vitamin D. Vitamin D is crucial for promoting calcium absorption in the duodenum.¹⁶ Adequate vitamin D is also essential for proper calcium metabolism.¹⁷ Appropriate calcium metabolism is absolutely vital for the support of neurotransmitters and the efficient transport of substances across cell membranes.¹⁸ Calcium, as the most abundant mineral in the body, is involved in almost every physiological process.^19,20 Deficiencies can result in diverse symptoms of poor health.²¹

In addition to the skin, the eye is another receptor organ for light. Fluorescent lighting contacts the 100 million receptors in the retina. Visual information is then pre processed and transmitted directly to the brain via the 1.2 million nerve fibers of the optic nerve.²² Thus, photoreceptor cells activate neuronal circuitry to regulate metabolic

response. For example, researchers at MIT are using light to investigate the inhibition of neuronal circuitry in seizures and motor control.²³

Stress can be physical, mental, or psychoemotional. According to Julie Plunkett, CN, MH, “Extreme acute or chronic stress typically leads to damage and eventual death of certain nerve cells in the brain.”²⁴

Natural health practitioners understand that no part of the human body functions in isolation. Altered physiology that disrupts homeostasis affects health.

As incandescent lighting is phased out, prolonged exposure to fluorescent lighting will increase. Fluorescent lighting will become the dominant source of illumination. Energy-saving technology is now making it possible to extend the use of fluorescent lighting into the body’s personal space. This also increases the intensity due to proximity.

I submit that the mandated use of fluorescent lighting is a large-scale population experiment where the outcome may be unknown for several decades. Since human health results from numerous factors, unlike a carefully controlled laboratory situation that tests only one variable at a time, it will be easy to dismiss negative findings and blame other causes for maladies related to fluorescent lighting. Some individuals are

more sensitive and susceptible to the harmful effects of fluorescent lighting than others due to their general health and genetic, hereditary, lifestyle, and environmental factors. The type, condition, and age of the fluorescent lighting itself may also be a factor. The adverse health effects of pervasive exposure to fluorescent lighting cause physical impairment for intolerant individuals. Such a disability marginalizes certain people

socially, restricts their activities, and limits their choice of employment.

Notes

1. Energy Independence and Security Act of 2007 [Web article]. Wikipedia. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Energy_Independence_and_Security Act_of_2007. Accessed February 2, 2010.

2. Asgharian D. E-mail messages to author. Jan. 19 and 21, 2010.

3. Warren V. Create a sleeping sanctuary – reduce electrosmog. Townsend Lett. 2009;317:60.

4. Gosbell V, Perera S, Smith V. Power quality monitoring – plant investigations. Integral Energy. 2002 January. Technical Note No. 5.

5. Electromagnetic fields [Web article]. Wikipedia. http://tuberose.com/Electromagnetic_Fields.html. Accessed February 2, 2010.

6. Ibid.

7. Ibid.

8. Wedam NF. Biological liquid crystals: a scientific explanation of Bach Flower Essences. Townsend Lett. 2006;276:91–93.

9. Electromagnetic fields. Wikipedia. Op. cit.

10. Ibid.

• Warren V. Op cit.

11. Becker RO. Cross Currents. Los Angeles: Tarcher; 1990.

12. Cell membrane [Web article]. Wikipedia. http://wikipedia.org/wiki/Cell_membrane. Accessed February 2, 2010.

13. Electromagnetic fields. Op. cit.

14. Osmosis [Web article]. Wikipedia. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Osmosis. Accessed January 19, 2010.

15. Marz RB. Medical Nutrition from Marz. 2nd ed. Portland, OR: Omni-Press; 1997, 1999.

16. Ibid.

17. Ibid.

18. Seager SL, Slabaugh MR. Chemistry for Today: General, Organic and Biochemistry. Pacific Grove, CA: Brooks/Cole; 2000.

19. Bowen R. Endocrine control of calcium and phosphate homeostasis [Web article]. http://arbl.cvmbs.colostate.edu/hbooks/pathphys/endocrine/thyroid/calcium.html. Accessed February 8, 2010.

20. Marz RB. Op. cit.

21. Optic nerve [Web article]. Psychology Wiki. http://psychology.wikia.com/wiki/Optic_nerve. Accessed January 17, 2010.

22. Ibid.

23. Plunkett J. E-mail message to author. February 3, 2010.

Norene F. Wedam

4911 NE 46th Street

Vancouver, WA 98661