My mom wanted to do her part and go green and save on electricity by putting some flourescent bulbs in. However, when looking at the package closely, she noticed that mercury is contained in the bulbs. She thinks that few people will dispose of them properly, and our landfills will just be contaminated with mercury.
What are your thoughts on this? I realize that this has been the case with florescent "tube" bulbs for years also.
2007-08-01 01:43:28 · 5 answers · asked by Anonymous in Environment ➔ Green Living
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 the tiny amount (0.005 grams or less) that is in a CFL. And the mercury from burning fossil fuels gets dispersed directly into the air.
It's better if you dispose of old CFLs properly so that even the tiny amount of mercury is not released. As you point out, the long fluorescent also have Mercury (2-10 times more) and so municipalities often have special disposal programs for them, which will also take CFLs.
But, no matter how they're disposed of, CFLs reduce mercury pollution.
http://www.cityofberkeley.info/sustainable/Powerplay%20articles/16Powerplay.Mercury.CFL.html
http://www.snopes.com/medical/toxins/cfl.asp
2007-08-01 01:57:28 · answer #1 · answered by Bob 7 · 4⤊ 0⤋
I've seen a lot of literature lately that the mercury in the CFLs is far less than the mercury released into the atmosphere by burning coal (or other fossil fuels) to light the old incandescent bulbs.
And, many areas are now taking old CFLs back for safe disposal or recycling. Wal-Mart has even said they may do this.
2007-08-04 08:46:35 · answer #2 · answered by Brooklyn NYC 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Coal fired power plants release more mercury into the environment generating the extra power needed by incandescent heaters than the amount that would be released if fluorescents ended up at the landfill.
If a significant proportion of the electricity where you live comes from coal then the mercury in fluorescents is less of a problem than the power plants (not to mention that coal has the highest CO2 emissions of pretty much any power source).
2007-08-01 08:58:33 · answer #3 · answered by bestonnet_00 7 · 3⤊ 0⤋
Thats why landfills are frequently required to have liners.
Actually I can't figure out what the fuss is. The mercury came from the earth to begin with, what do they expect us to do with it? Shoot it into space? Irradiate it into gold?
2007-08-01 08:53:30 · answer #4 · answered by Bill S 2 · 1⤊ 0⤋
I think the Mad Hatter was quite entertaining. *eats tuna sandwich*
2007-08-01 08:45:41 · answer #5 · answered by The Instigator 5 · 0⤊ 2⤋