Ultraviolet (UV) Health Risks

UV rays damage our bodies by breaking down the structure of our DNA. UV is also known to cause a variety of health issues. Since the effects of UV are cumulative, all of the UV exposure your body has received since you were a child will have an effect on your body today… and tomorrow!

The UV radiation found in fluorescent lighting is present in two forms: UVA (320 to 400 nanometers [nm]), and UVB (280-320 nm). UVB rays pose a much greater risk of causing skin cancer than UVA.

UV radiation has long been known to cause a myriad of health problems. Some sources indicate that fluorescent lights emit more UVB than the sun. In the 1992 edition of the American Journal of Epidemiology, it was found that fluorescent lights emit "10-30 times" more UVB radiation than the sun does. UVB radiation has been found to be carcinogenic (cancer causing).

Chronic effects from long-term exposure to UV include premature skin aging, stronger allergic reactions, cataracts, blood vessel damage, a weakened immune system, and skin cancer.

You should also know that there are over 125 commonly used medications classified as photosensitizers that actually make your body UV-sensitive. Photosensitizing products can cause certain autoimmune diseases, such as lupus (in which the body's auto-immune system mistakenly destroys itself) to worsen.

Seasonal Affective Disorder (S.A.D.)

Seasonal Affective Disorder, also known as S.A.D. is a mood disorder associated with episodes of depression and related to seasonal variations of light. This disorder usually abates during the spring and summer months.

The typical symptoms of S.A.D. include:
• Lack of energy
• Depression
• Increased desire for sleep
• Craving for sweets and weight gain

Melatonin, a sleep-related hormone secreted by the pineal gland in the brain, has been linked to S.A.D., which may affect over 10 million Americans this year. S.A.D. is often treated with “Phototherapy.” The goal is to fool the body’s melatonin manufacturing mechanism into thinking that it is spring or summer through the fall and winter, and many people respond to this therapy.

How We Can Help
NaturaLux™ Filters are designed to simulate the full spectrum of visible light that is provided by our sun. They are UV-safe, recyclable and non-yellowing. NaturaLux Filters are also the first and only filter that offers scotopic enhancement.

Lupus Erythematosus

1.4 million people have been diagnosed with lupus. The causes of lupus are not known, but scientists suspect that there is genetic predisposition to lupus. What is known,however, is that environmental factors such as ultraviolet (UV) light play a critical role in triggering lupus.

How We Can Help
NaturaLux Filters™ are designed to absorb the damaging UV rays from fluorescent lamps that can trigger lupus symptom flair-ups.