Should We Really Be Using CFL? (Health Risks and Risk to Plants?)

There has been a lot of talk recently about CFL causing cancer. Due not only to unprotected UV light but also because of the mercury and other carcinogens.

Assuming you don't spend all day in your grow room right next to your lights, cancer shouldn't really be an issue with using these lights for growing. What I'm wondering is, do you think that these lights might cause problems with the genetics of your plants? Like deformed leafs, stunted growth, genetic abnormalities in future generations or clones?

Could these bulbs possibly cause higher rates of herming, weak plant genetics and other problems outside of your control? Also could the bud smoked from plants grown under CFL be more harmful to us than we think?

Lets get some opinions on this. If anyone knows anything about the way these bulbs work or the studies, please chime in.

Here is a little reading material on the subject.

http://www.prisonplanet.com/damning-new-study-eco-bulbs-cause-cancer.html

http://novatownhall.com/2011/04/27/study-cfl-bulbs-cause-cancer-should-be-used-definitely-not-in-the-proximity-of-the-head/

http://www.washingtontimes.com/blog/watercooler/2011/apr/25/study-enviro-light-bulbs-can-cause-cancer/

I dont know about the whole cancer thing but cfls a fine for growing... they have no adverse effect on the plant compared to hids. Plants, though they may not like UV light either, Use it in a rewarding way. It creates Tric layers to protect itself which in turn use the UV light to make THC. I use CFLs and by no means create a perfect environment for the ladies and none of mine ever grew weird or hermie.

uv causes cancer when your in sunlight too. thats why people who get sunburnt too much get skin cancer. uv is uv either way unless your plant is getting burnt it will be fine. and buds that come from cfl grows are fine to smoke

Though I currently believe that using CFL's is great for growing, I do find the articles you posted very interesting. Thank you for bringing them to my attention.

do cfl's give off much UV? my impression is that it's minuscule
i'v actually considered adding a UV source for some enhanced results

Just a little info from the articles in case you don't want to read them

Their report advises that the bulbs should not be left on for extended periods, particularly near someone’s head, as they emit poisonous materials when switched on.

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But the German scientists claimed that several carcinogenic chemicals and toxins were released when the environmentally-friendly compact fluorescent lamps (CFLs) were switched on, including phenol, naphthalene and styrene.

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So I guess if your using CFL or even T8's, T5's, T12, don't keep them close to your head or spend a lot of time with in a foot of them.

I just wonder how it really effects the plants.

Not a scientist, but that article sounds like shit. Prisonplanet is a lot of paranoid hype. That said, the cfl may emit small amounts of bad things, but not enough to worry me. The uv it gives off is a plus for growing. Plants love it.

If you are not within inches of the light, the fumes and uv should be no problem. They did a study where they measured the uv from office lights and it was equal to 1 minute of midday exposure per 8 hours of work for the office workers.

CFLs give off nil to none UV unless you pay big bucks for a specific UV bulb. None of the inner material leaks out of the bulb but even if it did it wouldn't hurt you. CFLs aren't any worse than any other fluorescent light. Did you know you recieve 100x the radiation on a two hour plane flight than getting a full body xray? Sitting in the sun is MUCH worse for you than a CFL.

Look at what you are comparing to - Metal halides are mercury vapor lamps with rare earth metals. Mercury is deadly poisonous in the right doses and vaporizing it is putting it into its deadliest form.

HPS lamps also vaporize mercury to produce light - this is why they are whitish when you turn em on and slowly warm to the red spectrum. Enhanced blue spectrum lights contain even more deadly mercury! Ahh!

People add UV in indoor grows all the time like others have said, not a problem, and HPS and Mercury Vapor both contain mercury as stated before so six of one...

Plants are used to getting UV a whole lot more than we are. They'll be fine.
I agree they aren't the healthiest things for us, and certainly not within a foot of your head, but plants I see no problem compared to other bulbs.

The sun would be the best source of light always, especially if you're a purist, but then we don't have that option for both law enforcement reasons and keeping a strain free of cross contamination of other strains genetics if you are trying to breed or do more than flower clones. Plus then again outdoor grows are more exposed to whatever other crap is in our environment like smog, bugs, and plant diseases...

The light powering your laptop or flat screen monitor are small fluorescent bulbs.
Only if broken the mercury gas can escape and you would need a many broken at one to cause brain damage.

Nutes and Nugs said:

The light powering your laptop or flat screen monitor are small fluorescent bulbs.
Only if broken the mercury gas can escape and you would need a many broken at one to cause brain damage.

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I think the lights in my computers monitor are LED lights, not tiny fluorescent bulbs. Also, when you turn CFL on, it heats up the mercury and which lights up the phosphor, causing the white light. When it does that it releases phenol, naphthalene and styrene (all cancer causing agents).

It's actually both, LED's for the display and a CFL for the back light.
I've replaced a few of them. Very skinny and easy to break.

This site has replacements and a good picture.
http://www.lcdparts.net/agnCCFLlamp.aspx?gclid=CK2SrY6vyKgCFQ5-5QodJHbqsA