Full-spectrum fluorescent lighting: a review of its effects on physiology and health

Background. Full-spectrum fluorescent lighting (FSFL) has been credited wit h causing dramatic beneficial effects on a wide variety of behaviours, ment al health outcomes and physical health effects, as compared to other fluore scent lamp types. These effects are hypothesized to occur because of simila rity between FSFL emissions and daylight, which is said to have evolutionar y superiority over other light sources. Method. This review, covering the period 1941-1999, critically considers th e evidence for direct effects of FSFL through skin absorption as well as in direct effects on hormonal and neural processes. Conclusions. Overall, the evidence does not show dramatic effects of fluore scent lamp type on behaviour or health, neither does it support the evoluti onary hypothesis.