Mercury and Compact Fluorescent Light Bulbs?
Question:Does anyone know the risk of using cfl's? They contain mercury and how toxic are they if one breaks? At this time I am hesitant to buy them because of how toxic mercury is and how costly a clean up will be. Understand it cuts energy use and green house gases, but not willing to poison my family.
Answers:
If you are that concerned, I'm sure there are many manufacturer's websites devoted to dispelling the rumors. These bulbs have mercury, but it is such a minute amount. If you are still concerned, be careful not to break them. We use them in the house, and they last a lot longer and use about 1/4 of the energy as incandescent bulbs, not to mention they generate less heat.
You have been around flourescent tubes all your life, I am sure you have been near one when it broke.
It has the same stuff in it as Compact Bulbs, Just a lot more of it.
There is a very little bit of mercury in the Compact flourescents.
I sure wouldn't worry about one breaking, and I would/and do , use them in many places in my home.
So don't be afraid, in some countries the incandescent bulbs are being phased out and banned, and only Compact Flourescents will be available
Heard on the radio - a woman called in to say that she'd had a cfl break, read on the pkg to call a # w/info on what to do - ended up having to seal off the room and pay $2000 for clean up. Haz mat guys said that the room registered 6x above allowable amount for mercury. Back to the standard ones for me...
I really would not worry about it. Yes, I worry about breaking any light bulb. That is why I only handle then while standng on a sturdy step stool. I am very short. 5'1''. Yes, the light is different but nothing that you do not get use to. I like them. With my three children it is needed.
Don't buy into that liberal scare tactic crap. Use the CFLs. If it breaks, sweep it up, throw it in the trash.
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