Re: Stocked up with 100w bulbs yet?!


"Dead Paul" <dead_paul@xxxxxxxx> wrote in message
news:gk5pc0$sch$1@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
On Thu, 08 Jan 2009 12:47:20 +0000, M.I.5¾ wrote:

<snip>
Agreed.
Some of the CFL's were actually produced with a radioactive emitter to
aid starting. It's hard to find info on this though.


Have you found any info because this is the first I've heard of this? A
quick canter around our fluorescent lamps with a radiation meter reveals
nothing alarming.

I think the following only applies to cfl's that do not use an electronic
ballast (perhaps they all have electronic ballasts these days):

http://www10.antenna.nl/wise/index.html?http://www10.antenna.nl/wise/329/3293.html

There are three radionuclides in common use in CFLs: Krypton-85 (Kr-85),
promethium-147 (Pm-147), and tritium (H-3). These radionuclides are used
in very small amounts - typically billionths of curies, known as
nanocuries (nCi) (see chart).

Radioactive Materials in Philips Compact Fluorescent Lamps

PL Lamps ('twin tube') 5, 7, 9, 13W
- less than 30 nCi krypton-85

PLC cluster Lamps/15mm ('quad cubes') 16,22, 28 W - less than 330 nCi
promethium-147

PLC Cluster Lamps/10mm ('quad tubes') 10, 13, 18, 26 W - less than 500 nCi
tritium

SL Lamp with Integrated Magnetic Ballast 18W - less than 110 nCi tritium

Kr-85 is a chemically inert noble gas that emits beta particles and emits
a 0.41%-probable gamma ray. It has a half-life of 10.76 years. The major
exposure pathways are through the skin and lungs.

Pm-147 is a rare earth metal, similar to the tristimulus phosphors used
for coating the fluorescent tubes. It is a solid and emits beta particles.
Its half-life is 2.62 years. Under international standards, the maximum
permissable body burden for Pm147 in the critical organ (bone) is two
microcuries, or six times the amount in one lamp. The maximum permissable
continuous exposure level for the public is 0.67 nCi/m3 for air, and the
maximum permissable intake by inhalation is 60 micro-curies per quarter,
or about 182 times the amount in one lamp.

Tritium is also a beta emitter. It has a half life of 12.3 years. In its
elemental form, tritium is a gas, and in that form is considered much less
dangerous than in its oxidized form as tritiated water or water vapour. It
has been estimated that a lethal dose (LD50/30causing death to 50% of
subjects within 30 days) is about 70 Ci tritiated water for a man weighing
70 kg. Much smaller quantities constitute a serious risk if ingested,
inhaled or absorbed through the skin. Fire is a serious consideration
here, since it would result in the immediate oxidation of exposed
elemental tritium.

Among the controversial aspects of using radionuclides in CFLs is the
question of labeling. Nuclear Awareness Project has discovered that in the
US, the Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) requires labeling of the boxes
of CFLs which contain radioactive materials- although the lamps themselves
are not labeled. For example, Philips PL boxes are labeled with the
following wording: "This lamp uses a glow switch containing less than 30
nCi Kr-85". That's all well and good, except it does not tell the consumer
outright that the product contains radioactive material, and it uses
scientific short forms for nanocuries and radioisotopes which would not be
understandable to the average person. Still, it's at least something. In
Canada, there's no labeling at all, making it impossible for most
consumers to make an Informed choice. The Canadian Atomic Energy Control
Board (AECB) considers that there are such small quantities of radioactive
material involved in CFLs that it is below regulatory concern.

In addition to concern about the lamps themselves, there is the question
of safety during the manufacturing process, as well as the transport and
storage of the radionuclides prior to manufacturing. Then there's the
matter of uncontrolled disposal of the lamps. And, says the author, in a
more general sense, it is also unfortunate that the use of these
radionuclides in consumer goods offers more economic support and
justification for the commercial and military nuclear industry, which is
the supplier.

In the US, the environmental community is divided on support for CFLs. The
Rocky Mountain Institute in Colorado (founded by soft-energy advocate
Amory Lovins), has argued that the benefit in energy savings from CFLs far
outweighs the disadvantage of containing radioactive material. By
contrast, Nuclear Free America, based in Maryland, has taken a position
strongly against the use of CFLs, arguing that they foster a continuing
reliance on the nuclear industry and the risks and costs simply outweigh
the benefits. They are promoting the use of a more efficient incandescent
lamp.

But, says Martin, the good news is that there are CFLs that do not contain
radioactive material: In particular, the CFLs with electronic ballasts,
which do not need radioactive material for their starters. The Osram
"Dulux EL" , for example, is a quad tube electronic CFL available in 7,
11, 15 and 20 watts. It has an integral electronic ballast, and because it
is a quad lamp, it is shorter and fits easily in most incandescent
fixtures. It is not yet available on a retail basis, but is being
installed in commercial and industrial locations. The bad news is that it
will cost more. The Osram Dulux D (a high performance quad tube CFL in 10,
13, 18, 26 watts) and the Dulux DIE (similar to the Dulux D, but capable
of dimming) have no glow switch, and therefore no radioactive materials.
The Philips SL18 with the integrated electronic ballast has no radioactive
material (although the SL18 with the magnetic ballast uses tritium - see
chart) and the longer length Philips PL lamps (18, 24, 36 watts) are
likewise radiation-free.

Sources: Nuclear Awareness News (Canada), Winter 1989/1990.

Contact: Nuclear Awareness Project, Box 2331, Oshawa, Ontario, L1H 7V4.


Thank you for that. Very interesting indeed. It also explains why I didn't
detect anything with the quantities being so small. The suggestion is that
historically more CFL lamps contained radioactive material than anyone might
have thought. However, nearly all (if not all) self contained domestic
lamps do have electronic ballasts so should be OK.


.

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