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and bright class-II FL and class-I FSFL. They found that beta brain- waves increased during the afternoon under all lighting conditions* There are, of course, numerous reasons for restlessness, difficulties in concentrating, etc., besides environmental factors like lighting, noise, chemicals, diet, and so on. Many adults who have been labelled with ADHD (attention deficit hyperactivity disorder) have come to the conclusion that their particular problems are due to having a gifted and spirited personality type, and/or having an atypical learning style such as being a visual-spatial or a tactile learner, and/or being a highly sen- sitive person (HSP) whose extremely delicate and finely tuned ner- vous system easily gets overwhelmed by external impressions, thereby making it hard for that person to concentrate. Or it may be that the material that one is required to focus on is just too boring, incompre- hensible, untrue or irrelevant! (Anyone wishing to learn more about these alternative views on ADHD might find inspiration on the fol- lowing websites: http://borntoexplore.org/sitemap.htm, http://pages. prodigy.net/redstar0 1/index-1.htm, and http://www.hsper- son.com/.) tion outwards before they are ready. If this is not the practice in your hospital, I strongly recommend that you make sure it will be, soon, and that the dim lights used are incandescent and not fluorescent. This may be more important for these babies' chances than we can imagine. Lighting for your Pets Since most animals seem to have even more delicate senses than humans do, is it not possible that they, too, are suffering immensely under FL without being able to tell us about it? Patrick Lindahl even suggests that animals may see flicker that we don't and may perceive an FL tube as if it were a strobe lamp. With all the stress, abuse and indignities that we are already subject- ing so many animals to, do we really need to torture them with bad lighting on top of it? If you yourself own or work in a place where animals are kept, why not try bright incandescent light and/or real day- light in the daytime and darkness or very soft incandescent light at night and see how the animals seem to feel? Making an Informed Choice If you didn't already know much about light and lighting, it is my hope that you are now in a position to make a more informed choice. However, since there seems to be so much variation between individu- als as to what type of lighting solutions are optimal, my final sugges- tion is that you try various types of lamps yourself and see what works best for you. If you don't mind using FL light, then it's probably okay for you. And if you belong to the minority who doesn't like electric light at all but prefers candlelight only, then that's probably just what you need. So, if you just pay attention to how your body reacts under various types of lighting, I believe you each have your own best guide. oo Lighting for the Youngest When welcoming a new life into this world, I would as my first choice use only candlelight or, if not possible, very soft GLS. I would take care not to expose the baby to fluorescent light at all, and shield the baby if passing an FL light source was unavoidable. And just as one might have figured this out simply by using empa- thy and common sense, a study shown on a Nova science programme on TV (spring 1998, I think) found that babies born prematurely fared much better when kept in conditions as close to womb-like as possi- ble, with very dim light and whispering nurses who are not wearing perfume—so as not to overstimulate the babies and draw their atten- Endnotes (1997), "Illumination perception in /nightlight.html#Outdoor. 1. Bergvall, O., "De flesta har slocknat" photophobic patients suffering from panic 23. ibid. ("Most have gone out"), Rad & Ron 7/01. disorder with agoraphobia", Acta 24. Personal communication with Bonnie 2. ibid. Psychiatrica Scandinavica 96(1):72-74, in: Dennedy, March 2003. 3. Reis, P., "Manga bra och nagra usla" Sandstr6m, M. et al., Belysning och héilsa 25. McColl, S.L. and Veitch, J.A. (2001), ("Many good and a few lousy"), Rad & Rén (Lighting and Health) 2002:4, "Full-spectrum fluorescent lighting: a review 9/00. Arbetslivsinstitutet, Stockholm. of its effect on physiology and health", 4. Bergvall, ibid. 16. Veitch, JA. and Newsham, GR. (1998), Psychological Medicine 31:949-964. 5. Fyra fragor om ldgenergilampor (Four "Lighting quality and energy-efficiency 26. Kiiller, R., LicPhil, DSc, and questions about energy savers), effects on task performance, mood, health, Wetterberg, Try MD, PhD (1993), Energimyndigheten, Eskilstuna, 1999. satisfaction, and comfort ; Journal of the Melatonin, cortisol, EEG, ECG and 6. ibid. Mluminating Engineering Society 27(1):107- subjective comfort in healthy humans: 7. Liljefors, A., "Ljuset hemma" ("Home 129, in: Sandstrém, M. et al., Belysning och Impact of two fluorescent lamp types at two lighting"), Bo Baittre (issue unknown). hdilsa, ibid. ; ; ; light intensities", Lighting Res. Technol. 8. ibid 17. Sndla med energin men inte med ljuset 25(2):71-81. 9. "Bel sning inomhus: riktlinjer och (SkimpJonlenergy/butmotion|uminance), »_ Detysning NOMAYUS: TUCMJer och Stockholm Energi, 1989. About the Author: rekommendationer” (“Indoor lighting: 18. ibid. Inger Lorelei was born in 1961 in guidelines aa mendations )s 19. Ott, J.N. (1985), "Color and Light: Their Sweden, where she still lives. She has a ae an Effects on Plants, Animals and People", trained and worked as a personal colour Mwy ee ee a Journal of Biosocial Res. 7, pt, in: consultant and also as an interior design Hib Semple Tesienil sine Liberman, J., OD, PhD, Light: Medicine of colour consultant, having studied colour Fighting), Liuthulrur 3/95 and 45. the Future, Bear & Co., Santa Fe, New and lighting at the SeaEN ET Colour 12. Veitch, LA. and Newsham, G-R. (2000), Mexico, 1991, p. 146. institute in stockholm She has created "Exercised control, lighting choices, and 20. Pope, Nori and Pope, Sandra, Color by h H “Oy Col energy use: an office simulation Design: Planting the Contemporary Garden, Con own s armonious 0 on experiment”, Journal of Experimental Bay Soma Publishing, 1998. ombination System and used it wit! Psychology 20:219-237. 21. Solar Outdoor Lighting Inc., much success. Though currently retired, 13. Veitch, J.A., and Newsham, G.R. (2000), _http://www.solarlighting.com/merchant/abou she spends her time researching and "Preferred luminous conditions in open-plan _t.ihtml; and email from Vice-President Alan writing about her favourite topics. If offices: research and practice Hurst, February 2003. you have any questions, or would like to recommendations", Lighting Res. Technol. 22.. Wilson, A., "Light Pollution: Effortsto Share your own experiences with 32(4):199-212. Bring Back the Night Sky", EBN, vol. 7, no. different types of light, you are very 14. Veitch and Newsham (2000), ibid. 8, 1998, at welcome to email Inger at 15. Kellner, M., Wiedemann, K. and Zihl, J. http://www. buildinggreen.com/features/night ingerlorelei@tiscali.se. 46 = NEXUS JUNE — JULY 2003 www.nexusmagazine.com