Compact Fluorescent Bulbs have Mercury?!?

[Delta1]

Re: Compact Flourescent Bulbs and Mercury

137th Gebirg said:
I'm all in favor of efficient power consumption and environmentally friendly concepts, just not at the expense of human health.

So don't crack open light bulbs and snort the contents, and you'll be fine*. Meanwhile, enjoy the net reduction in environmental mercury from a reduced demand on the power grid.

As for the much-ballyhooed death of the incandescent, it is true that some incandescent bulbs will not meet the new efficiency standards that enter into force in the US in 2014. The new standards cover "general service lamps" between ~30 watts and ~150 watts. Appliance lights, 3-way bulbs, night lights, marine lights, vibration-resistant lights, spotlights, and 16 other categories of incandescents are exempted.

*This is good advice for pretty much everything in your house.

 

[Stormrage]

My family has had the same light bulb for the living room for about 6 years. It's still working like a charm.

 

[AlxxlA]

And if you were wondering about the mercury thermometers, they were used because mercury allows a more precise measurement then alcohol, however, newer digital thermometers have rendered both obsolete.

Anyway, back to the lightbulbs. As a number of people above have said, there simply is too little mercury in a bulb to be harmful, and anyway, how often have you broken a bulb?

I play with mercury all the time, and I haven't brained my damage at all. (Kidding)

 

[Alaedhros]

My roommate dropped a CFL two days ago. We're both still very much alive. So far, anyway.

 

[Trekker4747]

Re: Compact Flourescent Bulbs and Mercury

My parents have long-sense replaced all the major lightbulbs in their home with CFL ones. (That is all the bulbs in the living room, kitchen, bathrooms, and their bedroom) and have seen DRAMATIC reductions in their electricty bill.

Clearly they were a good choice.

 

[ed629]

Re: Compact Flourescent Bulbs and Mercury

Remember the fluorescent tube scene in the 40 Year Old Virgin, I did stuff like that.

Haven't gotten around to changing mine over to CFL here though, but I've been in my house for 2 years now, and still haven't had a bulb go out on me. So when they do, I'll change over to them.