Radiation-Emitting Light Bulbs

Imagine a light bulb so dangerous it can cause permanent eye damage. Now imagine those same light bulbs in schools, gyms and office buildings. As Fox 5's Dr. Sapna Parikh reports, those bulbs do exist.

They are called metal halide bulbs, first used in the 1970s and still in use today. They are perfectly safe unless the outer glass cracks or breaks. An ordinary household bulb would go out. But the tube inside a type "R" bulb keeps burning, releasing dangerous ultraviolet radiation.

FDA ALERT: Ultraviolet Radiation Burns from High Intensity Metal Halide and Mercury Vapor Lighting Remain a Public Health Concern

Broken and unshielded high intensity metal halide and mercury vapor light bulbs continue to cause eye and skin injuries, particularly in school gymnasiums. To prevent these incidents from recurring, FDA recommends the following in schools and other indoor, all-purpose facilities where the light bulbs may be broken:

• replacement of open or wire grid fixtures with enclosed fixtures, or
• replacement of non-self extinguishing "R" type high intensity metal halide and mercury vapor light bulbs used in open or wire grid fixtures with self-extinguishing "T" type light bulbs.

The 2005 National Electrical Code addresses high intensity metal halide and mercury vapor light bulbs installed in newly constructed or renovated indoor sports or all-purpose facilities. Because the bulbs in such areas are subject to physical damage, they must be installed in fixtures that are fully enclosed by a lens of glass or plastic to protect the bulb from breakage.

>FDA INFORMATION: RADIATION-EMITTING PRODUCTS

>FDA INFORMATION: MERCURY VAPOR LAMPS