Fluorescent bulbs' UV risk is minimal

Q I understand that fluorescent bulbs emit larger amounts of ultraviolet radiation than do incandescent bulbs. Ultraviolet light is known to cause some colors to fade, to cause some materials to age more rapidly and to be harmful to skin and eyes. How much ultraviolet radiation do CFL bulbs emit in comparison to incandescent ones? What precautions, if any, should a person take when using CFL bulbs?

A Incandescent bulbs are an insignificant source of ultraviolet light (UV). Fluorescent lights emit UV light, but the amounts are not harmful, according to the Center for Devices and Radiological Health. It is less than you would get from sunlight. An eight-hour exposure to UV from fluorescent lamps is equal to about one minute in the noonday sun. This is a very trivial risk for most people.

That said, some individuals are genetically very susceptible to ultraviolet light and get skin cancers at a very young age (xeroderma pigmentosum). These people should avoid all exposures to UV radiation, including sunlight. A second group of people sensitive to UV are those with lupus.

If you are concerned about UV radiation from fluorescent lamps, you can buy lamps that have acrylic UV filters, or add a filter to those that don't. An example is GE's SAf-T-Gard bulb, a low-UV bulb for especially sensitive areas (such as photography dark rooms). They block most ultraviolet light emissions.