Abstract: A fluorescent lamp has a glass bulb, electrodes provided therein, a discharge medium enclosed inside the glass bulb and containing 0.009 mg/cm2 or less of mercury per inner surface area of the bulb and an inert gas, and the fluorescent layer provided on the inner surface. The fluorescent layer contains the phosphor fine particles and a binding agent preferably composed of alumina fine particles having a BET value of 60 m2/g or more and alumina fine particles having a BET value of 40 m2/g or less. A lighting device incorporates the fluorescent lamp described above. According to such fluorescent lamp and lighting device, the luminous-flux rising characteristics at an initial lighting stage and film adhesion strength of a fluorescent layer can be improved by specifically defining the fluorescent layer, phosphor fine particles, and alumina fine particles.

Abstract: A luminescent material for a mercury discharge lamp comprises a phosphor material including phosphor particles for emitting a luminous flux upon excitation by ultraviolet radiation at 254 nm and a protective layer continuously formed on the phosphor particle with at least one metal oxide selected from the group consisting of MgO, Y.sub.2 O.sub.3, La.sub.2 O.sub.3, Sm.sub.2 O.sub.3, Gd.sub.2 O.sub.3, Dy.sub.2 O.sub.3, Ho.sub.2 O.sub.3, Er.sub.2 O.sub.3, Yb.sub.2 O.sub.3, Lu.sub.2 O.sub.3, CaO, ZrO.sub.2, SrO, BaO, .alpha.-Al.sub.2 O.sub.3 and BeO. A mercury discharge lamp has a luminescent layer coated with the luminescent material on the wall of the light transmissive bulb thereof.