Lupus, UV rays, Fluorescent lighting

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Fluorescent lighting, whether it be the common

fluorescent bulb or the "Natural Light" spectrum bulbs, are detrimental

to patients with Lupus. Both lighting fixtures display with UVB rays.

Exposure to these rays have been proven to trigger flares in Lupus

patients.

There have been numerous studies concerning the effect fluorescent

lighting has on Lupus and all point to the same conclusion: Lupus

patients should not use flurorescent lighting in their homes or work

place. Exposure on a day to day basis causes symptoms to increase.

Below is an

excerpt on how fluorescent light can effect those with Lupus. This

alert was sent to all hospital facility managers so they would be aware

of this.

Fluorescent light activates the

immunomodulator cis-urocanic acid in vitro: implications for patients

with systemic lupus erythematosus.

McGrath H Jr, Bell JM, Haycock JW. Department of Medicine, Louisiana

State University Medical Center, New Orleans 70112.

OBJECTIVE--Erythemagenic (295-305 nm) ultraviolet-B (UVB) radiation

is toxic to patients with systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE). Cool

white fluorescent lamp emissions produce a similar toxicity even though

the UVB radiation emitted is primarily at the relatively

non-erythemagenic wavelength of 313 nm. The purpose of this study was

to determine if fluorescent light, presumably acting predominantly

along the 313 nm wavelength, exhibits photochemical activity sufficient

to account for toxicity.

METHODS--The photochemical activity of fluorescent light was

assessed by testing its capacity to activate urocanic acid, a plentiful

and potent epidermal immunological mediator normally activated by

polychromatic UVB radiation but activated maximally at 313 nm.

Irradiation-induced isomerisation of trans-urocanic to cis-urocanic

acid was quantitated by UV spectroscopy after separation of the isomers

by high performance liquid chromatography.

RESULTS--Fluorescent light irradiation of solutions containing the

photoreceptor trans-urocanic acid produced a cumulative conversion of

trans-to-cis-urocanic acid. This photochemical activity was compared

with that of erythemagenic sunlamps, high in polychromatic UVB

emissions. When normalised for UVB irradiance, the accumulation of

cis-urocanic acid produced by both light sources was essentially

equivalent. Conventional acrylic diffusers that absorb UVB emissions

eliminated the fluorescent light-induced reaction.

CONCLUSION--The results indicate that radiation from fluorescent

lamps possesses substantial photoimmunological capability, sufficient

to activate a potent, potentially dangerous, disease-modifying,

immunomodulatory pathway and that poorly erythemagenic, primarily

monochromatic UVB photons are responsible.

PMID: 8037497 [PubMed - indexed for MEDLINE]