Is it true the energy-saving light bulbs have mercury in them?

Question

Isn't that a disposal problem? It certainly isn't "good" for the environment!

From the website:

CFLs contain a very small amount of mercury sealed within the glass tubing – an average of
5 milligrams, which is roughly equivalent to an amount that would cover the tip of a ball-point
pen. No mercury is released when the bulbs are intact or in use. By comparison, older
thermometers contain about 500 milligrams of mercury. It would take 100 CFLs to equal that
amount.
Mercury currently is an essential component of CFLs and is what allows the bulb to be an
efficient light source. Many manufacturers have taken significant steps to reduce mercury
used in their fluorescent lighting products. In fact, the average amount of mercury in a CFL
is anticipated to drop by the end of 2007, thanks to technology advances and a commitment
from the members of the National Electrical Manufacturers Association.

EPA recommends that consumers take advantage of local recycling options for compact
fluorescent light bulbs, where available.

Campbelp2002: I added information based on an answer. And I still wanted to hear more, it was less than 4 hours, so what's your problem? I'm impressed that so many Yahoos knew about the mercury!!

Answer 1

It will lead to problems in our water supply. Mercury is Toxic and enters our water supply from ground contamination. The EPA Maximum Contaminant Level for Mercury in water is 2ppb or 0.002ppm. This is a very low amount, barely detectable without expensive equipment. So it only takes a trace amount to be harmful to our bodies. The lightbulbs do contain enough to cause contamination of our groundwater.

Answer 2

Yes they have mercury. It is a huge disposal problem. How many people are really going to go through the process of recycling them? (most people don't know about this) They are glass and break. Mercury is the second most dangerous substance to man after Uranium. When a thermometer breaks (old glass mercury kind), in a school for instance, they need to be evacuated and toxic clean up crews have to come in (happened in Minnesota).
Maybe a regular light bulb uses more energy to power - but that power is not necessarily the kind that has mercury as an end product - so it is comparing apples to oranges to say that. Is saving a few pennies a year worth spending more in the added health problems that this has the potential to cause?
It's not good for the environment and it's not good for your immediate health either.
What needs to be done is use power other than coal-burning power plants and in the meantime there are technologies that keep the mercury expelled from these out of the environment. It is expensive and the power companies dn't want to spend money on it, and the current pollution laws have been loosened, so on top of that, they are not required to use those technologies. Why not tighten up those laws and keep mercury out of the air, and we won't have to choose between mercury in the air, or mercury in our homes in bulbs. Hmmmm.
LED lights will go down in price, those are a better alternative.

Answer 3

Yes, CFLs have an amount of mercury the size of the period at the end of this sentence. If it breaks you have to be a little careful about cleaning it up, but most of the cleanup instructions involve not cutting yourself on the glass. The mercury hazard is pretty minimal.

In fact, because there is mercury in coal emissions, you can be reducing the total amount of mercury released by replacing your incandescents with CFLs, as you can see here:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Image:Mercury_emissions_by_light_source_%28en%29.svg

And CFLs can be recycled, so disposal isn't a problem.

http://www.energystar.gov/ia/partners/promotions/change_light/downloads/Fact_Sheet_Mercury.pdf

Answer 4

yes. any flourescent light contains a small amount of mercury. if you break one be very careful handling the pieces. wear gloves and place the pieces in a safe container. the energy saving is not great. example; a 100 watt bulb on for 10 hours uses 1000 watts. divide by 1000 to get kilowatt hours and you get 1 kwh. if you pay 10 cents per kwh, your cost is 10cents. a 40 watt energy bulb is the szme as the 100 watt but cost 4 cents, saving 6 cents for 10 hours of light.

Answer 5

There are trace amounts of mercury in the bulbs. So, the question is: What is worse: Burning excess energy, or having mercury in the landfills?

If you happen to break one, DO NOT CALL the EPA or some emergency response company to abate the release in your home as your homeowners insurance company will not pay for the costs.

If you are a business, the bulbs need to be disposed in accordance with your state regulations

Answer 6

properly we cant have our cake and consume it to.... all human beings is extra in contact approximately saving power that they are going to possibility polluting our environment in an prolonged time... yet it is the huge secret that the makers of the bulbs have been tiring to cover whilst they got here out with those products..... merely think of how a lot of those bulbs have been thrown into landfills because of the fact that they got here out and now all that mercury is merely seeping into the floor and into all of the underground water factors a lot for saving the planet

Answer 7

It is true that these CFL's contain a minute amount of mercury in them and that amount has decreased and is expected to decrease even more. There are numerous places where these bulbs can be recycled after they are no longer usable.

Answer 8

If true more people should be aware of the fact...google composition of energy saving light bulbs for the answer

Answer 9

It cost some lady in Maine $2K to clean up the mercury spill in her home

http://bangordailynews.com/news/t/news.aspx?articleid=147595&zoneid=500

Answer 10

You answered your own question! If you have the answer, don't ask here!