Considering the mercury content of fluorescent bulbs, ...?

Question

will the disposal of these bulbs cause a bigger environmental problem than the energy consumption posed by the more common bulbs used now?

Answer 1

Whilst the amount of mercury used in production a CFL bulb is at most 6mg, the average mercury content is 4mg. The total emissions of mercury created by a CFL bulb from electricity consumption over its lifetime is about 2.4mg of mercury. In comparison the emissions from an incandescent light bulb is about 10mg. Therefore overall CFLs result in a slightly less amount of mercury emitted over the lifetime of a CFL bulb. The real gain is the reduction of 38kg of Co2 per CFL and an overall saving of 14% on your electricity bill.

To ensure the safe disposal of CFL bulbs you should return them to the retailer or to an appropriate recycling facility. Once collected the bulbs are crushed in a machine that uses negative pressure ventilation and a mercury absorbing filter allowing the mercury to be reclaimed.


Note: It is assumed the emissions from electricity consumption is from standard electricity supply. Should renewables be used then the emissions of mercury would be 0mg (not including the production of the renewable source), however for the use of incandescent bulbs to be effective we would need to be using a high proprtion of renewable energy.

PS ... you can now get CFLs with ultra-low mercury levels.

Energy Saver
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Answer 2

No. Using compact fluorescent lights (CFLs) actually reduces mercury pollution.

Fossil fuels contain mercury. Using incandescent bulbs causes more mercury to be emitted from power plants. More than is in a CFL.

It's better if you dispose of old CFLs properly so that even the tiny amount of mercury is not released. But, no matter how they're disposed of, CFLs reduce mercury pollution.

http://www.cityofberkeley.info/sustainable/Powerplay%20articles/16Powerplay.Mercury.CFL.html

Answer 3

Probably not, especially if proper disposal methods are used. Remember, it is not only the new compact fluorescent lamps that have mercury. All the regular long tube fluorescent lights you see in stores, offices, schools and so on have mercury too. And so do those piercingly bright blue-white mercury vapor street lights, although the more energy efficient yellow or pink sodium vapor lights are gradually replacing them.

Answer 4

Yep, but the "greenies" love them, because they use less electricity. They really don't care about long term effects on the environment, it's all a big show to them.

By the way - see if you can get the government to release the figures on how many workers at the old World Trade Center site have died on account of exposure to the residue of millions of smashed fluorescent bulbs. It's pretty embarrassing, actually.

Answer 5

There is no Mercury .