A fluorescent tube (2) is made of a plastics material containing at least one organic fluorescent dye and attached to the inner surface of this tube is a barrier layer (3) for absorbing ultraviolet radiation, and attached to the inner surface of the layer (3) there is a phosphor layer (3a).
A low pressure arc discharge lamp with an end-of-life structure is described. The lamp has a discharge tube with sealed ends, and the sealed ends contain a filament for forming a discharge arc. The filament is supported by lead-in wires. The discharge lamp further comprises a connecting element made of an insulating material which transversely connects the lead-in wires within the discharge tube. The transverse dimension of the connecting element is chosen so as not to allow the discharge arc beyond the connecting element upon end-of-life of the discharge lamp.