[Raptor235]

New reports have revealed that the remarkable energy saving compact florescent bulbs may only save energy and not the environment.

Mercury Hazard

Each of these light bulbs contain mercury. And although it is only the size amount of a period at the end of a sentence, this amount can still be harmful if inhaled.

The majority of these light bulbs are ending up in the trash. And that leaves tiny bits of mercury in the landfills. Mercury can then spread from the landfills to eventually end up in our natural water supplies, like lakes and rivers.You can find the entire article here http://aboutmyplanet.com/alternative...escent-bulbs-2

[horselover]

I never knew this.

[atula]

This is alarming news..becoz the rate at which these cfl bulbs are used has gone up pretty high and that means the mercury accumalated ahas already increased....so what can be done to reduce the harm..can we destroy the bulbs in some other way?

[tater03]

I just read about this the other day. I never knew that there was mercury in the bulbs either. That does pose a big problem as to what to do with them when they are burnt out?

[Timetrvlr]

Selected quotes from National Geographic article:
Fluorescent Lights' Mercury Poses Dim Threat

Scott Norris for National Geographic News

May 18, 2007

CFLs' cool-burning illumination is made possible by a pinch of poison—about five milligrams of mercury sealed inside every glass tube..........

CFLs are proven cost and energy-savers. Traditional incandescent bulbs are highly inefficient—about 90 percent of the energy they consume produces heat rather than illumination. A compact fluorescent bulb can produce the same amount of light for less than quarter of the energy and last eight to ten times as long. A switch to CFLs would save an average household about 50 U.S. dollars a year in electricity bills, according to government estimates............

According to a recent report by the Washington, D.C.-based Earth Policy Institute, a worldwide shift to CFLs would permit the closing of more than 270 coal-fired power plants. Switching to CFLs in the U.S. alone could save the energy output of 80 plants.
For environmentalists, the clincher is that by requiring less energy, CFLs will actually cut down on mercury pollution produced by coal burning, and EPA agrees.

"By using less electricity, CFLs help reduce mercury emissions from coal-burning power plants, which are the largest source of human-caused mercury emissions in the United States," said agency press officer Ernest Jones. (Related: "Clean Coal? New Technology Buries Greenhouse Emissions" [May 2, 2006].)

I found this an interesting quote from a coal article in Discover magazine: "...coal is as filthy as it is cheap and abundant. When burned, it releases three pounds of sulphur dioxide and four pounds of nitrogen oxide for every megawatt-hour of operation. The nation's (U.S.) plants produce a total of about 48 tons of mercury annually."

[Timetrvlr]

Selected quotes from National Geographic article:
Fluorescent Lights' Mercury Poses Dim Threat

Scott Norris for National Geographic News

May 18, 2007

CFLs' cool-burning illumination is made possible by a pinch of poison—about five milligrams of mercury sealed inside every glass tube..........

CFLs are proven cost and energy-savers. Traditional incandescent bulbs are highly inefficient—about 90 percent of the energy they consume produces heat rather than illumination. A compact fluorescent bulb can produce the same amount of light for less than quarter of the energy and last eight to ten times as long. A switch to CFLs would save an average household about 50 U.S. dollars a year in electricity bills, according to government estimates............

According to a recent report by the Washington, D.C.-based Earth Policy Institute, a worldwide shift to CFLs would permit the closing of more than 270 coal-fired power plants. Switching to CFLs in the U.S. alone could save the energy output of 80 plants.
For environmentalists, the clincher is that by requiring less energy, CFLs will actually cut down on mercury pollution produced by coal burning, and EPA agrees.


"By using less electricity, CFLs help reduce mercury emissions from coal-burning power plants, which are the largest source of human-caused mercury emissions in the United States," said agency press officer Ernest Jones. (Related: "Clean Coal? New Technology Buries Greenhouse Emissions" [May 2, 2006].)

I found this an interesting quote from a coal article: "...coal is as filthy as it is cheap and abundant. When burned, it releases three pounds of sulphur dioxide and four pounds of nitrogen oxide for every megawatt-hour of operation. The nation's (U.S.) plants produce a total of about 48 tons of mercury annually."

The 5 mg speck in a CFL bulb is still poison and the burned-out lamp should be saved for recycling. Most cities have a place that recycles florescent tubes and bulbs.

[Timetrvlr]

Sorry about the double post! I got lost while trying to edit and ran out of time.

[goldberry]

Darned if you do, darned if you don't. : ) My husband actually did a stint selling these things. I didn't like them at the time, because they took awhile to warm up, especially when used outside. I hear they have gotten better though.

Seriously, I guess its just a matter of weighing the pros and cons. Which is worse for our environment-- excessive energy use, or pollutants? Are there any other alternatives that could solve the problem?

[tater03]

Yes, the new LED lights are suppoused to be great and last for a very long time. I don't know to much more about them though but I am sure that someone on here might have more particulars on them.