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incandescent daylight alternative, feels a bit odd to me because of _ light produce much heat, too (as does FL, although not quite as the very unnatural purple-white hue that the neodymium coating much). But what's wrong with that? Isn't infrared as much a part creates. According to Sylvania, this lamp was designed primarily of a "complete" spectrum as ultraviolet? And in an SPD chart, for plants, which are said to grow more lushly in red-blue light. incandescent light does not produce peaks at various individual I would also like to comment on a couple of things in Dr Jacob wavelengths as FL (including FSFL) does, but, instead, produces Liberman's otherwise very enlightening book that I feel he may a soft-flowing curve since it has a continuous spectrum, just like have misunderstood about the colour of incandescent light (and I sunlight, and is warmer, more golden in colour (with emphasis in hope he won't mind if I do). the warm end of the spectrum) mainly because its luminance is so On page 146, he expresses his concern that the warm colour of | much lower. Sunlight, too, is whiter in the daytime and gets incandescent light might be unhealthy for humans, based on Dr warmer towards the evening as it becomes less bright, right? If John Ott's experiments where wavelengths in the orange-pink-red you compare, for example, a 100-watt light bulb with a 25-watt range caused serious health problems in animals.” These often bulb, or have a dimmer that you turn down, you can see that the quite horrible effects were, however, not produced by incandes- brighter the light is, the whiter it looks. What could be more nat- cent light but by monochromatic light. That being exposed to one ural than this? single wavelength (colour) at a time—which, as Dr Liberman So, since the colour temperature seems to adjust itself automati- himself describes, can also be therapeutically beneficial in limited cally in incandescent light to suit the situation perfectly—and gets doses—may be harmful for animals and possibly for humans, too, whiter and more activating when you turn it up, and warmer and if used for a prolonged period of time, has nothing at all to do more relaxing when you turn it down, why meddle with the spec- with incandescent light. tral composition at all? Why not just use a combination of bright On page 145, Dr Liberman claims that "most light bulbs give incandescent light and real daylight for work/in the daytime, and off gross distortions of the visible light spectrum, emitting strong then use softer incandescent light—or even candlelight if you feel peaks of light energy in the yellow, red and infrared portions of _ like it—for leisure/at night? the spectrum", and he calls this "highly unnatural" (his 7 7 emphasis).* As for the infrared part, both sunlight and candle- Continued next issue... light produce much heat, too (as does FL, although not quite as much). But what's wrong with that? Isn't infrared as much a part of a "complete" spectrum as ultraviolet? And in an SPD chart, incandescent light does not produce peaks at various individual wavelengths as FL (including FSFL) does, but, instead, produces a soft-flowing curve since it has a continuous spectrum, just like sunlight, and is warmer, more golden in colour (with emphasis in the warm end of the spectrum) mainly because its luminance is so much lower. Sunlight, too, is whiter in the daytime and gets warmer towards the evening as it becomes less bright, right? If you compare, for example, a 100-watt light bulb with a 25-watt bulb, or have a dimmer that you turn down, you can see that the brighter the light is, the whiter it looks. What could be more nat- ural than this? So, since the colour temperature seems to adjust itself automati- cally in incandescent light to suit the situation perfectly—and gets whiter and more activating when you turn it up, and warmer and more relaxing when you turn it down, why meddle with the spec- tral composition at all? Why not just use a combination of bright incandescent light and real daylight for work/in the daytime, and then use softer incandescent light—or even candlelight if you feel like it—for leisure/at night? Endnotes Bo Harringer, Medieteknik, Goteborg, 1999. 24. Veitch and McColl, ibid. Thanks to the following for providing 12. "Noll risk i IT-miljén" ("Zero risk in the | 25. McColl and Veitch, ibid. technical information: Professor Liljefors, | IT environment"), brochure by Svenska 26. Veitch and McColl, ibid. Royal Institute of Technology, Stockholm; —_Industritjanstemannaforbundet, 1999. 27. Personal communication with Tom Clas Tegenfeldt, BEMI, Linképing; and 13. Nordén, A. and Johansson, F.-U., entwistle, December 2001 . Osram, Philips Lighting, Sylvania "Geopatisk stress och samband med sjukdo- 28. McColl and Veitch, ibid. _ Luminance, Thorn Lighting and The mar" ("Geopathic stress and disease"), 29. "Belysning tnombus: tiktlinjer & rek- Swedish Energy Authority. Thanks also to 2000-Talets Vetenskap 2/96. ommendationer" ( Indoor lighting: guide- Richard Killer, Jennifer Veitch and every- 14. McColl, S.L. and Veitch, J.A. (2001), lines & recommendations") Ljuskultur, one else who has supplied items of infor- "Full-spectrum fluorescent lighting: a Stockholm, 1984, 1990. meter, review of its effect on physiology and . net ® MD PhD 1993), : A « health", Psychological Medicine 31:949-964. CUEIDELS yu > . pee io iin peel 15. Swedish Pharmaceutical Information "Melatonin, cortisol, EEG, ECG and subjec- 2, Knauppi, M., "Elektromagnetisk smog", Service, Apoteksbolaget AB. tive comfort in healthy humans: Impact of 2000-Talets Vetenskap 2/99. 16. Ott, J.N. (1985), "Color and Light: two fluorescent lamp types at two light inten- 3. Killer, R. and Laike, T. (1998), "The Their Effects on Plants, Animals and sities", Lighting Res. Technol. 25(2):71-78; impact of flicker fom fluorescent lighting on People", Journal of Biosocial Res. 7, ptI, in: Killer, R. in: Kiiller M. (ed.), well-being, performance and physiological Liberman, J., OD, PhD, Light: Medicine of | Miljopsykologiska Monografier arousal", Ergonomics 41(4):433-447. Rit Bear eco Santa Fe, New Fea Gake |. Pers icati ; lexico, »p. 146. ~ y , a Gah with Torkel W. "Byra frigor om Hnaealamect oa eo ecture: Lund Institute of Technology, 5. Sandstrom, M., Bergqvist, U., Kiiller, R., "Four questions about energy savers"), ibid. = a: Laike, T., Ottosson, Acoed Wibom, R., 18. Letter from Emil Welin, Philips 3 oe rch and McCol id "Belysning och hilsa" ("Lighting and Lighting, Sweden, June 11, 1999. 33. iLiixeamam, Asta ; 145 health"), Vetenskaplig skriftserie 2002:4, 19. Liberman, ibid. . iain | ISB Arbetslivsinstitutet (National Institute for 20. Hattersley, J. (1995, 2001), "The About the Author: Working Life), Stockholm. Healing Power of Full-Spectrum Light", Inger Lorelei was born in 1961 in Sweden, 6. ibid. NEXUS vol. 8, no. 4, 2001. where she still lives. She has trained and 7. "Fyra fragor om lagenergilampor" ("Four 21. Best, S. (2000), "A Nutritional worked as a personal colour consultant and questions about energy savers"), Approach to Treating ADHD", NEXUS, vol. also as an interior design colour consultant, Energimyndigheten, Eskilstuna, 1999. 8, no. 6, 2001. having studied colour and lighting at the 8. Personal communication with Roger 22. Veitch, J.A. and McColl, S.L. (2001), Scandinavian Colour Institute in Wibom, December 2001. "A critical examination of perceptual and Stockholm. She has created her own 9. Sandstrém et al., ibid. cognitive effects attributed to full-spectrum Harmonious Colour Combination System 10. See http://www.papimi.gr/cases/ lighting", Ergonomics 44(3):255-279. and used it with much success. Though ockerman/ockerman?2.htm. 23. McColl, S.L. and Veitch, J.A. (2001), currently retired, she spends her time 11. Ockerman, P.A. (Prof.), Gothemburg, in: "Full-spectrum fluorescent lighting: a researching and writing about her favourite Elektromagnetiska fiilt och ménniskan review of its effect on physiology and topics. Inger can be contacted by email at (Electromagnetic fields and man), video by health", Psychological Medicine 31:949-964. _ ingerlorelei@tiscali.se. 40 = NEXUS APRIL — MAY 2003 Continued next issue... www.nexusmagazine.com