Are Light Bulbs Dangerous?
You don't normally think of light bulbs except when they blow out. What could be simpler than changing a light bulb? A million jokes have sprung from that very assumption. Yet - it's a false one.
To anyone who deals with lighting for a living, they realize the sheer complexity and variety of lighting conditions, equipment and consumer products available. For anyone who had to climb a ladder to replace a light bulb in a high ceiling, they will know firsthand how a simple act like changing a bulb can actually possess many dangers.
Are light bulbs dangerous? If you don't take precautions, they can be. Knowing the risks and knowing that light bulbs are dangerous helps experts and homeowners alike, to avert crisis and make changing a light bulb the easy, painless task it should be.
But all the same, let's take a look at some of the dangers inherant in the seemingly innocent light bulb:
Over Heating Light Bulbs
Touching a halogen light bulb directly transfers body oil which deposits on the surface, and heats up under the hot glare. Since halogen, xenon and fluorescent bulbs contain compressed gas, a break results in explosive decompression, sending glass shards everywhere. Who thought to wear safety glasses? You were just changing a bulb. Now you don't need light, because you can't see.
Exceeding Wattage
When a bulb's electricity pull exceeds the fixture's wattage capacity, the wiring runs hot. Longterm overheating disintegrates wiring, crumbling it, and exposing raw current. At this point the current can jump and create a spark that can catch fire, or pull even more electricity. Sparks also may jump from faulty fluorescent tube starters or ballasts. If your fixture emits a burning smell or sizzling sound, or other various pops or burnouts,cut power to that area, and either troubleshoot the junction box or get a professional electrician to do it for you.
Dangers of Fluorescent Light Bulbs
Aside from its compressed gas issues, ballasts may contain PCB's, carcinogens which can cause reproductive, skin and liver disorders. Fluorescent tubes and Compact Fluorescent Lights (CFL's) contain mercury, must be disposed of properly, using airtight containers and other thorough hazard cleaning techniques. Breathing mercury vapors from a broken tube can cause brain and kidney damage from mercury poisoning. Therefore proper disposal or recycling is called for, and worth researching more thoroughly.
Of course, touching exposed pins in a loose tube socket can result in a four or five hundred volt shock. This kind of shock makes a serious threat for the incautious.
Replacing Bulbs
The simple act of replacing faulty bulbs presents numerous possible dangers. First, light bulbs which have not cooled properly burn the fingers. Give them five or ten minutes.
Using a ladder holds various dangers. Mispositioning or failing to lock it into place, makes an unstable platform. Working in the dark of a burned out bulb creates a visual hazard. Some people place ladders on a towel indoors to protect the floor, which results in a less stable base. The danger of falling off a high ladder should be obvious. However, did you consider the danger of working on a bulb above your head, accidentally breaking it and sending glass shards down into unprotected eyes?
Some people use extension poles to change their bulbs; an improper seal on a dusty bulb can pull the bulb out of the fixture and drop it in mid air; a falling bulb can explode on impact with the floor.
In all these cases the risk of a circuit breaker outside of control could make the difference between "seeing" the light and "being" the light. Let people know you'll be doing electrical work. Tape over light switches so that people cannot inadvertently turn them on. Unhook car batteries (negative post) when changing headlamp bulbs. You'll conduct electricity like Mozart conducts a symphony.
How About Luminosity? That's OK, Right?
In fact, some Full Spectrum lights go too far into the UV range. Ultraviolet light is why mercury is put into fluorescents, and why we avoid too much sun exposure. UV poisoning causes phototoxic or photoallergic reactions, even maladies like Lupus. It contributes to the photoaging process. According to the World Health Organization, "Prolonged human exposure to solar UV radiation may result in acute and chronic health effects on the skin, eye and immune system," and lead to "premature skin aging, photodermatoses and actinic keratoses, skin cancer and cataracts."
And you just wanted to save a buck, right?
Light Bulb Dangers
There are other light bulb dangers you should avoid. Placing an antique bulb into a higher-wattage modern fixture can blow the bulb, which, why would you want to?
If done incorrectly, replacing a broken bulb could result in cuts, or worse, electric shock.
And finally, as your parents warned you, reading in a dim light causes eye strain.
In addition, safety precautions should always be taken when changing bulbs:
- Wear safety glasses
- Wear electrician or mechanic gloves to prevent shock and contamination of bulb surface
- Provide adequate lighting for changing a bulb and for people to see you working
- Control the breaker
- Control the light switch
- Observe safe practices
- Call an electrician if you encounter a burning smell or sizzling sound
- If using a ladder, have a partner to help you and hand you bulbs
- Wait until bulbs cool before handling them, particularly hot pressurized bulbs like halogens; wear gloves for these to prevent contamination
- Look for the wattage rating inside the fixture, and use bulbs which do not exceed its limits
- When installing headlamps have them professionally aimed to prevent blinding oncoming traffic, especially with intense Xenon HID-type lights.
- Know the signs of a failing bulb - discoloration, burnout - so as to replace it before it blows and creates a dangerous lack of light. There's a reason the bulb was put there. It's not a good place for darkness.
- When driving observe safety practices like using dim lights when driving towards traffic, and only utilizing high beams in isolated areas. Fog lights provide added safety in inclement weather conditions.
So all in all, take light bulbs into careful consideration, and plan well. Consider usage, wattage, type of element and type of bulb, fixture, immediate costs and longterm costs. And as much as possible, keep personal health out of the cost equation.
More Light Bulb Questions