Compact fluorescent light bulbs are quite environmentally friendly, long lasting and popular in many households, but one British study says they could be dangerous for some people.

The new evidence has Health Canada looking into the bulbs now too.

Manitoba Hydro promotes the use of compact fluorescent bulbs or CFL's saying they're 75 percent more energy efficient than regular bulbs.

Randall McQuaker runs a green office complete with only CFL's.

"These bulbs are used particularly in our boardroom. They are very energy efficient they produce lots of light and they don't get hot either so that's another advantage," says McQuaker.

The bulbs last up to four times longer, than their older candescent relatives, but they are now under fire.

The British study found CFL's emit Ultra Violet rays similar to the sun, and if skin is less than 30 centimetres away from a lit bulb for more than an hour it is like being outside with exposed skin on a sunny summer day.

Manitoba Hydro is aware of the issue and the concerns raised.

"There's been some concerns I guess that some people have reported sensitivity to their skin at close proximity to the CFL bulbs," explains Glenn Schneider from Hydro.

British health officials have warned that the bulbs could worsen existing conditions, like eczema, dermatitis and lupus. Health Canada is now doing its own study into the matter.

McQuaker who thought he was doing the right thing by installing them is left with a lot of questions.

"Do all of these lamps produce U-V, and at what level? What's the scale of this? How concerned should we be?" he asks.

Health Canada won't have the answers to those questions until the fall of 2009.

Manitoba Hydro is taking a wait-and-see approach before changing any promotional campaigns.

"We certainly don't advise people to change their habits in terms of the use of the compact fluorescent bulbs. If they wanted to follow the U-K advice and stay at least a foot away, I think most people do that anyway," Says Schneider.

Randall McQuaker will wait for Health Canada's report too before taking any action to remove the bulbs, but until then he will double check all the CFL's in the office to make sure they are not too close to anyone.

Manitoba Hydro says so far no one in Canada has raised an issue about the bulbs.

If Health Canada finds a problem, Manitoba Hydro says it may pull its promotion of the bulbs.

In 2012 all non-efficient light bulbs will be banned in Canada.

With a report from CTV's Rachel Lagac�