One of the easiest things you can do to save energy is switch from traditional light bulbs (also known as incandescent light bulbs) to compact fluorescent light bulbs (CFLs). We've all heard this news and I've tried converting to this kind of light bulb to use less electricity at home and prevent greenhouse gas emissions.
But now I've heard that these eco-friendly CFLs may not be as safe as I thought. They contain a small amount of mercury, a neurotoxin that affects the nervous system and brain that's particularly dangerous for small children or fetuses. Mercury is the reason that doctors tell pregnant women not to eat sushi, since the most exposure comes from eating fish that are contaminated with mercury.
Learning that this dangerous element is present in eco-friendly light bulbs doesn't make me feel good about the safety of my home.
Intact or in use bulbs are completely safe, according to Energy Star's Compact Flourescent Light Bulb and Mercury fact sheet and the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency has very specific instructions for how to clean up a broken CLF bulb–but that doesn't make me worry any less.
Instructions for clean up are extremely specific, which only makes me doubt the safety of these light bulbs further. The EPA reminds that these are just precautions and that the light bulbs contain very small amounts of mercury, but safety outside the home can also be a concern.
To properly get rid of these light bulbs in the safest way, you must recycle them—but recycling isn't the easiest when most curbside recycling won't take the bulbs, forcing people to take them to a hazardous-waste collection day or special facilities.
So the question comes down to: Should you use eco-friendly but mercury-containing light bulbs or get rid of the possible hazard? Personally, I don't know that there's a right choice here–but I do know I'll be taking a longer look at the CFL warning label before I buy the next box. Oh yes, and evacuating the room immediately if one breaks.
Do you have compact fluorescent light bulbs (or CFLs) in your home? Does news that they contain mercury make you worry?
Image via andysternberg/flickr
