The bottom line on CFLs and mercury

comments from our community

• 
  Posted by whatever Sat Oct 25, 2008 2:07pm PDT

  armellegloaguen, thank you for the intelligent comment. I have the same--a baggie for old batteries, a baggie for old bulbs, a baggie with two ancient cell phones I still have to recycle, too, but I will eventally. It's not THAT hard, people, just do it with common sense and a little grain of organization. I do agree also that while you have to be careful and use common sense, it really isn't going to KILL you if you are exposed to this a couple times in your life. Really.

  Report Abuse
• 
  Posted by johnnytrs Sat Oct 25, 2008 2:08pm PDT

  At one place I worked we would change the florescent tubes and what would we do with all the old ones (bunches of them) We would throw them in the dumpster from the loading dock just to watch them explode. That was 15 years ago, but I'm pretty sure the wind was blowing our way, and I still am alive! Can you believe it? Didn't all of our parents play with mercury in school? I read somewhere that the amount of mercury released into the air from coal to power a regular light bulb quadruples or more the amount contained in a CFL. I actually broke 2 and my wife broke one the other day by accident. Oops, I didn't replace my carpet.

  Report Abuse
• 
  Posted by wind Sat Oct 25, 2008 2:08pm PDT

  The amount of mercury released by a CFL bulb is far less than the amount of mercury released by burning coal to produce the electricity used during the life of an regular light bulb of equivalent luminosity. CFLs are not perfect, but they are a step in the right direction. LED lights are the future replacement for CFLs. They last much longer and contain no mercury and use miniscule amounts of power. Once they become cheaper and brighter they will be the bulb of choice.

  Report Abuse
• 
  Posted by ZORCH Sat Oct 25, 2008 2:09pm PDT

  The author has a bad case of ill-informed chicken little syndrome. Probably is worried about cancer from cell phones, and the effects of electromagnetic waves from home appliances. Such attitudes are tolerable -- its a free country, after all -- but their editors should have a look at the technical validity of their writings. Cut out part of the carpet? Really??

  Report Abuse
• 
  Posted by Slut and Ho (You decide which) Sat Oct 25, 2008 2:20pm PDT

  This artical is where all the consperecy nuts and germa-phodes get all their ammunition. Murcury IS bad for you, but the tiny amounts are of no concern to the general public. I mean, come on, we readily EAT chemicals that KILL insects on our foods and are afraid of a light bulb... get a grip!!!!

  Report Abuse
• 
  Posted by Al Sat Oct 25, 2008 2:28pm PDT

  These bulbs are NOT green PERIOD! Note how many times the article states "throw away" & what happens to all the tainted things (not to mention a simple burned out bulb) that get thrown out? They go to the landfill to create yet another environmental hazard! Why did we bother to eliminate mercury from batteries years ago if were going to replace it with that from so called "green" bulbs? I also wonder how much of an environmental problem is being created in China as close to if not 100% of these bulbs are made there? They dont have a very good record when it comes to the environment.

  Report Abuse
• 
  Posted by joe p Sat Oct 25, 2008 2:49pm PDT

  Most people are just morons. If you could save money and the enviroment by switching to these lightbulbs you should. If all it takes is returning a lightbulb every coulple of years to Home Depot you should. Most of you conservative rednecks are there 5 times a week as it is. It's like the question;Would you give up your remote control to stop global warming?. Most idots reply,NO,global warming doesn't exist.

  Report Abuse
• 
  Posted by kmk_king_05 Sat Oct 25, 2008 2:59pm PDT

  i broke one about a week ago and didnt really clean it up and been steppin on it for about a week in bare feet. i feel fine!!

  Report Abuse
• 
  Posted by Dustin S Sat Oct 25, 2008 3:26pm PDT

  They forgot the most important fact about the CFl bulbs, they are all made in China, and all incondesant bulbs are made in the USA, there go more American Jobs!!!

  Report Abuse
• 
  Posted by mjurner03 Sat Oct 25, 2008 3:29pm PDT

  have you ever been in a theatre..whether it be professional or high school, they use use lamps to light the ceiling and those have mercury in them, too. don't worry about it.

  Report Abuse
• 
  Posted by robilliard Sat Oct 25, 2008 3:44pm PDT

  Utterly absurd-glass shards will quickly and easily cut through the environmentally unsound, petroleum product of a plastic bag. The bag does not address the issue-it only becomes extra trash-another piece of plastic carelessly wasted and discarded in yet another landfill. And the air issue hasn't been dealt with at all. Wake up people!!

  Report Abuse
• 
  Posted by hevancentangil Sat Oct 25, 2008 3:45pm PDT

  The people who thought up this idea using these bulbs and letting the puplic use them are determind to only make money not help the general puplic with cost of energy or conservation..What happens when your three year old knocks over the lamp in a room in the back of the house where he/she is playing and it is minutes before he/she comes tells you what happened(if you are told at all)? Think about that for a moment..your child!

  Report Abuse
• 
  Posted by sgh Sat Oct 25, 2008 4:06pm PDT

  All of this effort to be "green"? Too labor intensive for my tastes...What am I missing here? Can't afford to purchase them in the first place!!

  Report Abuse
• 
  Posted by E. Giles Sat Oct 25, 2008 4:08pm PDT

  I agree that they should not be sold to the general public and I like the old incandescent s better however we have had one light with the CFL in it an kept it on 24/7, lasted six plus years.

  Report Abuse
• 
  Posted by meh Sat Oct 25, 2008 4:21pm PDT

  Yes such "easy and simple" steps! Talking about contamination, throwing away clothes, rugs etc. And what if it breaks on carpet? Are you supposed to cut off a piece of the carpet or something and have a big hole in the middle of the room? The "easy and simple" steps are ridiculous! I never want to buy one of these bulbs again! It's crazy and dangerous to have such a "tiny" substance which can cause so many problems. Bah!

  Report Abuse