Is stagnant air or poor lighting a sufficient harm for the Eighth Amendment?

We have previously recognized that conditions of confinement that seriously threaten the health and safety of the inmates are unconstitutional, even if these conditions have not caused actual illness but merely pose an unreasonable risk of harm. See Hoptowit v. Spellman, 753 F.2d 779, 783-84 (9th Cir.1985). If stagnant air or poor lighting are a sufficient harm for Eighth Amendment purposes, see id., then the inmates doubtless have established sufficient harm here.

2

Whether the infliction of pain is "unnecessary and wanton" involves an inquiry into the justification for the measure complained of and the intent behind the measure. Where "[t]here is no purpose to inflict unnecessary pain nor any unnecessary pain involved," Louisiana ex rel. Francis v. Resweber, 329 U.S. 459, 464, 67 S.Ct. 374, 376, 91 L.Ed. 422 (1947) (plurality), there is no cruelty.