In the dark about fluorescents?

We’ve been sitting in the dark this week at work. Literally!

At our work retreat this week-end we were joined by faculty members from around the world and our Canadian comrades seem more aware than we are in the UK about the impact of office environments and our health. Apparently we need an ionizer because we have dead air and also need to switch off our fluorescent lights!

So we’ve been sitting in the dark ever since.

So what is so unhealthy about office environments and what can we do to improve them? After all, we do spend half our waking hours of the working week there.

Early in 2008, in response to renewed public concern arising from use of type II luminaires, NRPB carried out a study on Ultraviolet Radiation (UVR) from Fluorescent Lamps based on a sample of readily available lamps. Assessments were made of the possible potential risk for the induction of acute effects by reference to the suggested UVR exposure limits then in use and the results indicate that fluorescent lamps still do not present an acute hazard.

For this risk assessment, it was assumed that “a person is subject to 157 MED y ^-1 of solar UVR up to age 18, and then (as an indoor worker) is subject to 93 MED y ^-1 of solar radiation. These values have been used in a study of the impact of ozone depletion ⁶ using an MED of 200 J m ^-2. The exposure model assumes a two-week holiday in August in the UK ⁸. The indoor worker is also exposed to UVR from workplace lighting. The increased risk of contracting NMSC from an occupational exposure of 6.0 MED y ^-1 as opposed to 4.6 MED y ^-1 (at 300 J m ^-2 per MED) can be calculated.

In summary, under the conditions of this analysis they conclude that at commonly used illumination levels the UVR emissions presented neither an acute nor a significant chronic hazard ¹.”

According to new research by the Health Protection Agency (HPA) however, “some energy saving compact fluorescent lights can emit ultraviolet radiation at levels that, under certain conditions of use, can result in exposures higher than guideline levels.” see their piece on Precautionary advice: Energy saving compact fluorescent lights about the use of compact fluorescent lights (CFLs) in the home.

I think we need a bit more information on the risks of fluorescent lighting and any well founded comments would be greatly appreciated, as well as advice on how we can light up our working and home envoironments in a healhy way.

As for us at our office I can’t see us leaving the fluorescents off for long. It’s a dark office and it’s pretty miserable working is such a dull environment…I don’t know which is worse!

Grow your own food!

Do you want to grow your own food but don´t own a piece of land to grow it own? Then check this out:

Landshare is a new initiative that linking people who want to grow their own food to space where they can grow it. Channel 4 is one of the partners together with digital experts including Sixtostart, Mint Digital and presenter Hugh Fernley Whittingstall.

In the words of Adam Gee, Channel 4 Commissioner, Landshare:

“…links people who want to grow their own fruit & veg (but can’t get an allotment) with people who have bits of land they can grow it on.”

It’s great to be a part of Landshare. I’m certain it will have a big impact. At the moment, 60% of the food we consume in Britain comes from overseas (80% in London). If we utilise the space available, that number could fall to as low as 15%.

Find room to breathe - grow your own fresh air!

It’s official, oxygen is good for you! It reduces stress, increases energy and alertness, lessening the effects of hangovers, headaches, and sinus problems, and generally relaxes the body…ooh what a surprise!

Apparently we’re not getting enough of it in cities. So what can we do?

Apart from reducing our Co2 emissions and taking frequent escapes to the country for a gulp of the fresh stuff, here are a couple of options to keep us going:

You can either go for an oxygen top-up at a store

Or listen to researcher Kamal Meattle, who shows how simply by arranging three common houseplants, used in specific spots in a home or office building, can result in measurably cleaner indoor air.

These plants are:

- Areca Palm (living room)

- Mother in laws tongue (bedroom)

- Money Plant (specialist plant removes chemicals)

Right, I’m off to Columbia Road on Sunday to find mine. Oh, hang on, how many plants?!