I don't have any CFLs in my house. I admit I'm still concerned about mercury...
all of our lightbulbs within our apartment (including the basement and excluding the fridge) are now compact fluorescent bulbs.
I thought that they'd all be that annoying ultra bright white with a tinge of yellow but they're really just like regular old bulbs.
neat!
I don't have any CFLs in my house. I admit I'm still concerned about mercury...
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Mercury in Compact Fluorescent Lamps Argues for Recycling
The only drawback to using compact fluorescent lamps is that each bulb contains about 5 milligrams (mg) of mercury, a toxic heavy metal that can interfere with the development of children and unborn fetuses and may cause a wide range of health issues in adults, including brain, kidney and liver damage.
Because of the mercury they contain, compact fluorescent bulbs should be recycled lest they end up in landfills where they can contaminate air, soil and groundwater, potentially placing public health at risk.
While compact fluorescent lamps used in homes are not legally classified as hazardous waste and only large commercial users of fluorescent lights are required to recycle, proper disposal of CFLs is still the best option for both the environment and human health.
HEALTH EFFECTS OF MERCURY
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Here is a quote from a report by the National Institute of Health on the effects of Mercury:
Quote - "Exposures to very small amounts of these compounds can result in devastating neurological damage and death. For fetuses, infants and children, the primary health effects of mercury are on neurological development. Even low levels of mercury exposure such as result from mother's consumption methylmercury in dietary sources can adversely affect the brain and nervous system. Impacts on memory, attention, language and other skills have been found in children exposed to moderate levels in the womb."
Source : - http://orf.od.nih.gov/Environmental+Protection/Mercury+Free/MercuryHealthHazards.htm
CFL Mercury, The Hidden Hazard
Mercury is a hazardous element. It’s a heavy metal that, with prolonged exposure, can cause problems in brain function and development. Like lead, you need to handle mercury carefully and limit your and your children’s exposure to it.
Typical CFLs contain less than 6mg of mercury, an amount that does not pose any grave threat should the bulb break. The mercury, however is in vapor form, and so can be easily breathed in. Mercury also accumulates in your body — it is not easily eliminated — so repeated CFL breakages and repeated mercury exposure can indeed cause serious problems. So limiting mercury exposure and cleaning up properly after breaking a compact fluorescent bulb is a good idea.
If the amount of Mercury is such a non-issue, why are the warnings about when they break so pronounced? I haven't broken an incandescent bulb in a few years, but when it comes to both the CFL and 4' long fluorescent bulbs, I'm very, very careful.There's tiny amounts of mercury in the bulb and honestly, when was the last time you broke a lightbulb?
The mercury in them is a non-issue, certainly not a big enough issue to stockpile on incandescents and fear and worry over CFLs like Baba does.
If the amount of Mercury is such a non-issue, why are the warnings about when they break so pronounced?There's tiny amounts of mercury in the bulb and honestly, when was the last time you broke a lightbulb?
The mercury in them is a non-issue, certainly not a big enough issue to stockpile on incandescents and fear and worry over CFLs like Baba does.
I haven't broken an incandescent bulb in a few years, but when it comes to both the CFL and 4' long fluorescent bulbs, I'm very, very careful.
Tell me -- when is the last time you've been in an automobile accident? Either way, do you wear a seatbelt, and if you do, why?
I stuck my finger in a cup of mercury in science class a decade ago. Am I going to die now?
With the protective covers now available the mercury shouldn't be a big concern. As long as you dispose of them in a safe manner.There's tiny amounts of mercury in the bulb and honestly, when was the last time you broke a lightbulb?
The mercury in them is a non-issue, certainly not a big enough issue to stockpile on incandescents and fear and worry over CFLs like Baba does.
I guess I'm going to die too! I'm hoping for it to be around 80 years of age though.I stuck my finger in a cup of mercury in science class a decade ago. Am I going to die now?
He's a Trekkie. I thought we all had to have basements to live in.Your apartment has a basement?!
That's where those dumpsters at your nearby apartment complex come in handy.With the protective covers now available the mercury shouldn't be a big concern. As long as you dispose of them in a safe manner.
I'm doomed as well. I used to play with the stuff at home all the time in the 60's.I guess I'm going to die too! I'm hoping for it to be around 80 years of age though.I stuck my finger in a cup of mercury in science class a decade ago. Am I going to die now?
With the protective covers now available the mercury shouldn't be a big concern.
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