Final answer:
Fluorescent lighting is generally considered safe and does not exhibit the health problems associated with mercury, disinfectant, latex gloves, or nitrous oxide exposure that health care workers may face.
Step-by-step explanation:
Health care workers have exhibited health problems from exposure to a variety of substances, but not from fluorescent lighting, which is generally considered safe when used properly. Exposure to mercury can occur, for example, through mercury from fish or dental amalgams. Disinfectants and pesticides can also be hazardous due to long-term high-level exposure, especially in poorly ventilated environments. Latex gloves can cause allergic reactions in some individuals, and nitrous oxide exposure in dental practices can have health implications. However, common fluorescent lighting, under typical conditions, does not pose the same risks to health care workers as these other substances. It is important to note that the answer does not negate the potential for any visual discomfort or eye strain associated with fluorescent lighting; such issues are simply not on the same level as the established health problems caused by the other substances listed.