[RE-wrenches] CFL lighting and the mercury hazzard.

[Phil Schneider]

I agree ­ important to understand, and LEDs are a great alternative, with
cost being the significant factor.  This Snopes article mentions the Maine
DEP story:

http://www.snopes.com/medical/toxins/cfl.asp

The EPA factsheet at the end of the article has some ³science² regarding the
quantity of mercury associated with a couple different household items.  It
also mentions how much mercury is released into the air by a power plant
(undefined) generating electricity.  This is an interesting aspect I hadn¹t
considered before.

P.

Phil Schneider, system engineer
Creative Energies


From: Carl Emerson <freepower at freepower.co.nz>
Reply-To: RE-wrenches <re-wrenches at lists.re-wrenches.org>
Date: Wed, 10 Dec 2008 08:58:12 +1300
To: 'RE-wrenches' <re-wrenches at lists.re-wrenches.org>
Subject: [RE-wrenches] CFL lighting and the mercury hazzard.

Hi there,
 
We have for years been advocating the use of energy efficient Compact
Fluorescent Lighting (CFL) to reduce loads and reduce system cost.
 
A recent study by DEP in Maine has raised the alarm about mercury poisoning
form these bulbs. If there is a breakage the resulting levels of mercury on
the floor of the house are well above acceptable limits. Secondly there
seems to be little serious effort to safely recycle these bulbs in a manner
that keeps the mercury out of the eco system.
 
I understand that LED lamps are mercury free. This would seem to be a much
safer alternative.
 
While many of us have mercury amalgams in our mouth the mercury is
supposedly in a form that is not significantly ingested, whereas the mercury
in a CFL is in vapour form when hot and powder form when cold, and therefore
can pose a hazard to health.
 
Can I suggest some discussion on this and can we do our best to keep it
scientific, I don¹t mean to spread emotional alarm without due cause.
 
Thanks,
 

Carl Emerson
Free Power Ltd.
Auckland N.Z.


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