Compact Fluorescent Light Bulbs May Be Hazardous to Your Health

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Compact Fluorescent Light Bulbs May Be

Hazardous to Your Healthby Jo

Hartley

(NaturalNews) There is a congressional mandate in place banning sales of

regular incandescent light bulbs by the year 2012. Recently however, the

Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has warned that the use of compact

fluorescent light bulbs (CFLs) is not a safe product in many

cases.

Breaking a CFL can cause serious health risks. They contain mercury. This

is especially hazardous for small children and pregnant women. They also

warn that these light bulbs should never be used over carpeted surfaces

because in the event of breakage, the

mercury could

contaminate the carpet necessitating completely removing portions of the

carpet to eliminate the mercury hazards.

The mercury is necessary in the

light bulbs to

produce the light and currently there is no other option to achieve this.

Small amounts of mercury are vaporized upon breakage. It is even common

to break a CFL when attempting to screw it into a socket if it is done

incorrectly.

In a recently conducted study, researchers broke 65 CFLs. They then

tested the air quality and clean-up methods. Their findings were that in

many cases immediately after the break (and sometimes even after

clean-up) the levels of mercury were as much as 100 times higher than

federal guidelines for chronic exposure.

Mercury is a naturally occurring metal that can accumulate in the body.

If this happens, serious damage to the central nervous system can

occur.

The study concluded that if a CFL breaks, children and pets should

immediately be removed from the room and the room should be completely

ventilated. Vacuums should never be used to clean up a broken fluorescent

light bulb. Alternately, stiff paper and tape should be utilized to clean

up the small pieces.

CFLs can contain as much as 30 milligrams of mercury. A recent study has

estimated that two to four tons of mercury is released into the air each

year from these light bulbs.

Because of environmental pressure, compact fluorescent sales are soaring.

Over 290 million light bulbs were sold last year, nearly twice the amount

sold in 2006. Currently, CFLs make up 20 percent of the United States

light bulb market and this number is guaranteed to increase due to the

federal mandate banning all incandescent light bulbs starting in

2012.

Some states are now requiring consumers to dispose of compact

fluorescents as household hazardous waste. Other states are now

prohibiting their disposal in regular trash. Due to the recent studies,

some states are beginning to release guidelines for the use of these

light bulbs. Vermont is now suggesting that carpeting be removed where

breakages have occurred when small children and

pregnant

women have been present. Massachusetts is also expected to recommend

that CFLs not be used in fixtures where breakages are likely to occur and

where sensitive people spend time.

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