Questions Arising On Mercury In Compact Fluorescents

Patchw0rk F0g sends in an article from MSNBC on how some environmentalists are having second thoughts on compact fluorescent bulbs. Their relative energy efficiency is unquestioned. The problem is the mercury — enough in one bulb to contaminate 1,000 gallons of water, even in newer low-mercury bulbs. The EPA has an 11-step cleanup process to follow when you break a CFL in your home. The specialized recycling facilities that are needed are thin on the ground — about one per county in California, one of seven states where it is illegal to dispose of CFLs in the general waste stream.

Comments

I'm dead

[stokessd]

I played with mercury as a child. We used to rub dimes on it, and push it around on a desk and i our hands. I had like 5 pounds of the stuff in a bottle, enough co contaminate the solar system if ne CFB contaminates 1000 gallons of water.

So I'll be dying soon, anybody want to buy a low slashdot ID?

Sheldon

Tag this post: getoffmylawn

I don't get it

[ArcherB]

Questions Arising On Mercury In Compact Fluorescents What does Compact Florescent bulbs have to do with the planet Mercury?

Re:LED lighting

[unhooked]

Q: How many hazmat teams does it take to change a lightbulb?

Re:I only liked CFLs because they lasted longer.

[Anonymous Coward]

How can the first post be redundant?

That may be true but....

[raehl]

If you eat 11oz of Yellowfin each week, you'll consume the same amount of mercury as eating 1 CF lightbulb each year, or 4oz of swordfish each week. ...You've apparently never tried to light a room with swordfish.