I had a difficult time concentrating on my work in the office recently. I got extremely irritated and almost developed a headache. No, it was not because I had to handle difficult clients nor missed deadlines. Rather, the cause of my stress was one worn-out florescent light tube on the office ceiling that was emitting an annoying clicking sound with every flicker.

Harmful effects of florescent lights

Imagine if the same scenario happens in your child’s room while he’s doing his homework… he’ll probably have a hard time studying too.

For children who are particularly sensitive to environmental stimuli, especially those with autism and attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), reports have shown that the flickering and buzz of worn fluorescent bulbs increases repetitive motions and agitation in these children. In general, such flickers can cause migraines, eye strain, headaches and anxiety, which can affect your child’s learning or even health.

Fluorescent lights are also known to contain the highly toxic chemical, mercury, which can be harmful to the brains of foetuses and children. In the event when the florescent bulb breaks, mercury escapes as vapour that can be inhaled or absorbed into carpets or curtains.

Prolonged exposure to fluorescent light can also subject one to UV-A radiation. Though the radiation is low, it can still penetrate to deeper layers of the skin, sometimes causing allergic reactions (rashes) and potentially lead to skin cancer. 

LED is the brighter idea for your child

A study conducted by South Korean researchers found that students who took a math test under LED (Daylight) were more alert and scored higher than other students who took the test under regular fluorescent lighting. This is because LED (Daylight) mimics sunlight which can help students stay sharp when indoors.

The results support the notion that room lighting can affect one’s well-being, so it is important to choose the most suitable type for our children.

Recognising its many benefits, many households have slowly begun switching to LED lights from the more traditional fluorescent variety.

• Under sufficient bright LED lights (Daylight), students diagnosed as hyperactive appeared to show improved attention.
• LED lights produces steady source of light without flicker.
• It is energy saving, consuming much less power than traditional lighting options and with lower chances of overheating.

A Safer Alternative

• LED is definitely the most promising mercury-free alternative.
• It doesn’t produce any UV radiation.
• The risk of electrical fires is minimized as LED emits very little heat and maintains at relatively low temperatures as compared to fluorescent lights, halogen or incandescent bulbs.

Zenterra Lighting’s Ecodo LED Downlight: Your Smart Choice

Our human bodies are designed to respond to natural light. When it is daylight, we stay active; when it is dark, we wind down and rest.

A dynamic lighting control system can help us manipulate our indoor light levels – from cool white to daylight to warm white – to dramatically enhance physical and mental states of children, or even adults with just slightest change of colour temperature.

Recommended lighting:

• For light reading and regular play in the day – Cool White “standard” lighting to help keep children’s biological clock in sync.
• For intense academic activities such as studying – Daylight, which stimulates hormone production for alertness and activity.
• For later in the day or evening – Warm white light to provide a calming and cosy ambience while introducing the mood for rest and relaxation.

Ecodo, Zenterra Lighting’s in-house LED brand, offers such dynamic lighting control system with the flexibility of alternating between 3 coloured lights (warm white, cool white and daylight). Ecodo 3 colours LED downlight comes with a dimmable function (for all colours), all at the convenience of a remote control. 

Most importantly, safety comes first. Ecodo downlights are Safety Mark certified and it comes with a 3 years warranty + 1 year onsite electrical servicing and repair.

Find out more about Ecodo LED at Zenterra Lighting outlets:

Oxley Bizhub 
61 Ubi Road 1 #01-26/27, S(408727)
Tel: 6702 6080
Opening hours: 11am – 8pm, Mon – Sun

Trade Hub 21 
18 Boon Lay Way #01-129, S(609966)
Tel: 6266 6002
Opening hours: 11am – 8pm, Mon – Sun

For more, visit:

www.facebook.com/zenterralighting/
www.zenterragroup.com