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Light is a transverse electromagnetic wave of which humans can see only a small portion of the spectrum. Humans are electromagnetic (as all life is), which depending on the source of light through electromagnetic radiation can either support or destroy life. Doctor Alexander Wunsch member of the German Lighting Engineering Society and President of the International Light Association since 2007 describes the biological interaction with light. The eye is definitely not the only receptive organ for light. Human skin is transparent to light. Even short wave-lengths like UV radiation reach the capillary layers and the blood inside these delicate vessels. All the pigments and molecules with chromophoric groups in our body absorb and emit photons. Each single atom has the attribute we could call photonic metabolism. Photons are the language in which all matter communicates; every jump (change of energy level) of an electron is a accompanied by photonic activity. The specific composition of sunlight as well as the properties of the atmospheric layers play important roles for the life-aiding qualities of natural light. Under today’s view-point we have to suspect that every aberration from these properties make artificial lighting potentially dangerous for health. (Wunsch, 2006) Light and Learning: "There was a statistically significant difference between the students who worked under old-style fluorescent lights and those who worked under full-spectrum, visually-efficient lighting." This controlled study verified that depression was lowered among those students who experienced learning under full-spectrum lighting. Also, depression actually increased under standard fluorescent lights among the fourth graders. As an elementary school principal, William Titoff conducted research for his Ph.D. dissertation and discovered that when the project was completed, "the teachers with the full-spectrum lighting refused to let me take it out and put back the old-style fluorescent bulbs." Harmon, l938, found that over 4000 children developed observable deficiencies associated with Malillumination. In the late 1940's conditions of the learning environment (lighting, seating and decor) were instituted in schools, resulting in the following student improvements: 65% reduction in visual difficulties, 47.8% decline in nutritional problems, 43.3% reduction in chronic infections, 25.6% reduction in postural problems and, finally, 55.6% decline in chronic fatigue. (Laurence D. Martel) Increased exposure to fluorescent light and cancer risk: Energy saving lamps emit UV-B and traces of UV-C radiation. It is generally recognised that UV- radiation is harmful for the skin (e.g. skin cancer) and the eyes (e.g. cataract). UV-C radiation, which is normally not observed in nature because it is absorbed completely in the atmosphere, is especially harmful. Several studies have found that fluorescent lights raise the risk for skin cancer . (Lytle, 1992) The following results were obtained in a 2 year pilot study by S.L Gabby MD, determining the relationship between artificial light and its effects on C3H mice (highly prone to tumour development, 98% of males and females normally spontaneously develop breast cancer): Type of Light, No. of pairs of C3H mice A. Pink fluorescent, 30 pairs Effects + Comments: 29 female mice developed cancer – the other died of liver problems. Females died 1 month earlier than those in Group B. 1-2 offspring per litter, instead of 6-15. B. Daylight-white fluorescent, 30 pairs Effects + Comments: 24 of 30 female mice developed cancer – 2 other females died of liver problem. Able to breed 2 months longer than A. Also had larger litters than A. C. Daylight through windows into basement room. 8 pairs (used as control) Effects + Comments: Developed cancer 3 months after Group A, and 2 months after Group B 2 pairs of 8 pairs carcinoma free at time of report. Source: S.L. Gabby (1961), Observations on the effects of artificial light on the health and development of mice, cited by J.N. Ott (1982), How to Stay Healthy, Devin-Adair (1982), ISBN 0-8159-61 21-9. Note: Lighting conditions were the only variable used. In a similar study, using over 2,000 C3H mice J.N. Ott demonstrated the link between light and mortality rate from spontaneous tumour development, as below: Type of Light Average Lifespan of C3H Mice Pink fluorescent 7.5 months Daylight white fluorescent 8.2 months Full-spectrum plastic glazing 15.6 months Natural outdoor daylight 16.1 months Source: J.N. Ott (1973), Health and Light: The Extraordinary Study That Shows How Light Affects Your Health And Emotional Well-being, Ariel Press, USA, ISBN 0-89804-098-1. General health: 1967, International Committee on Illumination (C.I.E.) in Washington D.C, three Russian scientists, Dantsig, Lazarev and Sokolov presented a paper stating: If human skin is not exposed to solar radiation (direct or scattered) for long periods of time, disturbances will occur in the physiological equilibrium of the human system. The result will be functional disorders of the nervous system and a vitamin-D deficiency, a weakening of the body's defenses, and an aggravation of chronic diseases (Ott, 1986) ‘The Effect of Natural and Artificial Light Via the Eye on the Hormonal and Metabolic Balance of Animal and Man’, Opthalmologia 180, No.4, pp. 188-197, Raised levels of ACTH and cortisol (indicators of stress) were found as a result of exposure to cool-white fluorescent lights, in addition to reducing immune system functioning, and mental performance. Raised stress levels can also stunt children’s growth. Cool-white Fluorescent tubes were legally banned in some German medical institutions. F. Hollwich and B. Dieckhues (1980) A partial listing of health problems and social problems that fluorescent light have been implicated as aggravating is given below: (H.E.S.E Project, 2012) Aggression ALS Attention Deficit Disorder Autism CFS/ME Cancer Reduced concentration Confusion Diabetes Dermatitis Dental caries Dizziness Dyslexia Dyspraxia Eczema Electro-hypersensitivity Epilepsy Eye irritation Eye strain Fatigue Headaches Hyperactivity Irritability Learning difficulties Lupus Reduced muscle strength MS Nausea Photosensitivity Xeroderma pigmentosum