Re: Compact flourescent tubes

On May 10, 11:28 am, Shava_X <voodopeo...@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx> wrote:
On Thu, 08 May 2008 12:46:40 -0500, lenis wrote:
it is not a political issue.
google "mercury contamination"

...

Actually, there is a great deal of politically motivated F.U.D. about CFLs
floating around the Internet. Much of it uses the story of Brandy Bridges
in Ellsworth, Maine to make the claim that CFLs contain very dangerous
levels of mercury. Most of those articles are either written by, or
refer to articles written by Steven Milloy. The is a big hint. He was a
key architect of the Tobacco Industry's efforts to convince the public and
the government that tobacco products pose no health risk. You can read a
summary of His career here:http://www.sourcewatch.org/index.php?title=Steven_J._Milloy

The articles go out of there way to hype risk of mercury contamination
from broken CFLs. No where do Mr. Milloy's articles mention the current
guideline for cleaning up broken CFLs as published by the EPA and the
Maine Dept. of Environmental Protection (DEP):http://www.epa.gov/mercury/spills/index.htm#flourescenthttp://www.maine.gov/dep/rwm/homeowner/fluorescent.htm

A broken CFL is not a major catastrophe, and can be cleaned up by the
person who accidentally broke the CFL without to much trouble.

If You want, You can also compare Mr. Milloy's telling of events with the
summary posted by the Maine DEP:http://www.maine.gov/dep/rwm/homeowner/pdf/prospecthistory.pdf

You might notice a few differences.

Mr. Milloy goes on to speculate that since CFLs contain mercury, they will
actually lead to more mercury in the environment. Well, if You look up
the numbers, You will find that CFLs actually contain a very small amount
of mercury. If You use a CFL for 5 years, and then take it out side and
smashed it on the street, less mercury will have been released than if You
had used a regular light bulb for those 5 years (that is, IF Your
electricity comes from a coal fired power plant, as more than half the
electricity in the U.S. does). Not all CLFs end up being broken. If they
are disposed of properly, they will be recycled and the mercury within the
bulb will not be released. One line of CFLs uses 100% recycled mercury.

The risk of mercury exposure from CFLs has been severely over-hyped.

Some people get sick under fluorescent lighting. It is not healthy.

My good friend had to stop working at her family store when they
switched the lightbulbs.

Some people do actually experience headaches, weakness and nausea...
and the high pitched whine is disturbing to me.

The earth is dying, to respond to the growing crisis we should change
our light bulbs????

Ever think of going to bed when the sun goes down?
Putting on a sweater when it gets cool, taking a siesta in the middle
of the day when it is hot?
Driving less?
Cutting out meat & dairy (or at least reducing significantly)
Eat less, and prepare your own?
Refuse to purchase things wrapped in yards of petroleum products?

Walk to school and carry your lunch?

Incandescent bulbs contribute some heat, so in the winter (in
temperate climates) I don't really see a problem.

We in this society are going to be forced to change our habits in
major ways very very soon;
I can see that changing light bulbs maybe a good idea with observable
results....
- but it is akin to bailing the Pacific ocean with a teacup, and there
are problems involved you don't hear about (like the people who get
sick).

Too little too late.

And these little efforts give folks a false sense of activism.
IMHO.
.

Relevant Pages

  • Re: Compact flourescent tubes
    ... CFLs contain very dangerous levels of mercury. ... regular light bulb for those 5 years (that is, IF Your electricity ... their latest gadgets and conveniences, but hey, "i recycle it". ...
    (alt.gathering.rainbow)
  • Re: Anyone moved to LED Lighting?
    ... especially high-enough powered ones to replace incandescent bulbs. ... come out way ahead of CFLs, ... Tube darkening and flickering should pretty much disappear with LEDs. ... LEDs don't contain any mercury and that's going to become a much ...
    (comp.home.automation)
  • Light Bulb Lunacy
    ... Light Bulb Lunacy ... Aware that CFLs contain potentially hazardous substances, ... The DEP sent a specialist to Bridges' house to test for mercury ... It's quite odd that environmentalists have embraced the CFL, ...
    (soc.culture.australian)
  • Re: Compact flourescent tubes
    ... google "mercury contamination" ... there is a great deal of politically motivated F.U.D. about CFLs ... refer to articles written by Steven Milloy. ... guideline for cleaning up broken CFLs as published by the EPA and the ...
    (alt.gathering.rainbow)
  • Re: Compact flourescent tubes
    ... CFLs floating around the Internet. ... dangerous levels of mercury. ... When the ballast starts to go bad, ... (like sorting everything for recycling, as if that makes it all ok - ...
    (alt.gathering.rainbow)