As we may all be aware, Earth Day is quickly approaching (April 22, 2010)!!!  It is at this time when we are most reminded about our responsibility to conserve our resources, to recycle. If not simply by the mere mention of the day, then the media makes sure we get a good dose of  ‘how-to’s’ and ‘what-to’s'  regarding saving our wonderful planet.

Since compact fluorescent light bulbs have become a big part of the campaign, I would like to discuss one of the threats they may pose for people with systemic lupus. UV rays are one of the main causes for symptom flareups in lupus patients. In fact 40 to 70 percent of people with SL  find their symptoms get worse with exposure to UV rays. Enough exposure and, depending on your lupus ‘status’ (erythematosus or cutaneous), you will find your self  breaking into a rash, lesions on exposed skin  (mainly face), fatigue, sore joints, low grade fever, headache… Sound familiar?

The main source of these offenders come from the sun; right? So maybe if we take all the right precautions like wear that SPF 70, take a long sleeved shirt when we’re out in the sun (I do) and don’t forget that hat! Then we will be well ‘covered’. You would think so, but what happens when we get to the office or home and relax, take the hat off , sit at our desk and turn on that light?

While trying to conserve energy and become greener, businesses and homes have been switching their lighting to fluorescent lights. These lights are more energy efficient, and comply with the Energy Independence and Security Act. Originally named the Clean Energy Act, it was enacted in December 2007 and requires that all light bulbs in the US use 30% less energy by 2012 and 70% less by 2020, thus making these bulbs even more popular.  What a lot of people are unaware of is that these bulbs give off UV rays like the sun which makes them harmful for lupus sufferers.

Richard D. Sontheimer, M.D., Professor of dermatology at University of Utah health and Sciences Center conducted a study and found that old fashioned incandescent  bulbs  give off high amounts of  UVA rays (rays that cause long term effects -aging) but very little amounts of  UVB rays (rays that cause sunburn). Unfortunately it also reveled that fluorescent bulbs release both types of UV rays. His study was focused at a close range source of  fluorescent lighting. However other studies show risks of exposure from overhead lighting for people with systemic lupus.

There is no reason to throw out your long lasting, earth friendly light bulbs. Did I just say ‘throw’ away? I meant recycle, of course. There are many options out there for us with SL and we can still comply with laws and be ‘green’.

Home Fix

Ask for shielded compact fluorescents at you hardware store. Acrylic bulb covers or lamp shades will provide relief as well. Also encapsulated or double envelope bulbs – Philips Marathon is one to try. It is always best to ask your local store lighting department for help . You can also try bulb jackets which filter up to 99% UV light here northsolarscreen.com , or fluorescent filters here naturalux.com .

Office Fix

Ask what types of bulbs are being used, if they are not shielded, an acrylic plastic diffuser will shield UVB emissions. If you are experiencing photosensitivity  at work (any of the symptoms I mentioned above), you need to talk to your boss or contact your human resources department and ask to have your desk lighting  as well as overhead lighting changed to shielded fluorescent bulbs or ask that they be covered with filters. Here is a site with some examples for these at Ergormart.

I hope this information is helpful to some of you. here are a couple of other links with some related information. Be well and wear sunscreen…

http://www.lupus.org/webmodules/webarticlesnet/templates/new_empty.aspx?articleid=1961&zoneid=76

http://www.lupus.org/newsite/index.html