The New Energy Saving Light Bulbs are too dangerous to Use.
By barehugs
@barehugs (8973)
Canada
June 8, 2008 8:25pm CST
Danger: The new eco-friendly bulbs contain toxic mercury.
Energy-saving light bulbs are so dangerous that everyone must leave the room for at least 15 minutes if one falls to the floor and breaks, a Government department warned yesterday.
The startling alert came as health experts also warned that toxic mercury inside the bulbs can aggravate a range of problems including migraines and dizziness.
And a leading dermatologist said tens of thousands of people with skin complaints will find it hard to tolerate being near the bulbs as they cause conditions such as eczema to flare up.
The Department for Environment warned shards of glass from broken bulbs should not be vacuumed up but instead swept away by someone wearing rubber gloves to protect them from the bulb's mercury content.
In addition, it said care should be taken not to inhale any dust and the broken pieces should be put in a sealed plastic bag for disposal at a council dump? not a normal household bin.
None of this advice, however, is printed on the packaging the new-style bulbs are sold in. There are also worries over how the bulbs will be disposed of.
7 people like this
18 responses
@mentalward (14690)
• United States
9 Jun 08
You need to read the articles on these sites: http://www.hoax-slayer.com/mercury-fluorescent-lights.shtml, http://www.snopes.com/medical/toxins/cfl.asp and http://bexhuff.com/2007/03/mercury-flourescent-light-bulbs-how-dangerous-it.
What you read is a rumor. If anything, these bulbs are safer than incandescent bulbs. LED bulbs are the best, actually. No mercury at all and must less expensive to run than even the energy efficient ones.
But thanks for the post! It made me do the research myself to see how much of a threat this really was because I have a houseful of these bulbs!
So, stop worrying! Take care.
@Debs_place (10520)
• United States
9 Jun 08
Thank you for doing the research for me on this. I am usually the person who says that it is a myth.
I am glad there is another sane person in the world.
1 person likes this
@mentalward (14690)
• United States
9 Jun 08
I just read one of the articles in the post above mine. I need to comment here that yes, energy efficient light bulbs DO contain mercury. But incandescent bulbs contain even higher amounts of mercury. They seem to have failed to mention that in the article.
2 people like this
@mentalward (14690)
• United States
9 Jun 08
No problem! I learned a long time ago to do my own research into things like this before making any kind of decision. I'm glad I did!
1 person likes this
@kerriannc (4279)
• Jamaica
9 Jun 08
Where does this new information comes from. Is it because these bulbs are being made by China and Cuba. There are always negatives from the departments in America whenever there are good things being made and not say Made in America. I have notice this for years. It is not that I hate America but scientists are always saying something bad about another made and them little later you see that the American start to make their own and says that their is the best. Fluorescent bulb as always been dangerous and expenses. It is always the rich who has been using it. Now that China and Cuba has make something for the poor to survive their is a negative. This bulb is not different from the fluorescent it is just as energy saving as it. We citizens in the world need to look at the wrongs and right that these scientist is coming with.
When a fluorescent bulb is break it make a loud sound like a bomb but it is still in existence isn't it. Nothing that has glass is safe because once it is break splinter can damage one skin or eye. OMG they need to stop this foolish and make the poor survive in this world.
2 people like this
@pyewacket (43903)
• United States
9 Jun 08
Hope you don't mind me butting in here..LOL. It really doesn't matter where the bulbs are made...and many are made here in America...the point bearhugs is trying to make is of the potential dangers these bulbs can cause...Here's one article about it
http://earlychildhood.suite101.com/article.cfm/the_dark_side_of_light_bulbs
and here is another article
http://woodstockadvocate.blogspot.com/2008/02/energy-efficient-bulbs-dangers-disposal.html
1 person likes this
@suspenseful (40193)
• Canada
30 Jun 08
I know about breaking Energy saving Light Bulbs and sweeping them up. I did not know about the mercury content. So I guess we had better buy some rubber gloves. However I have not heard of other warnings, except for the migraines and I guess this is tens of thousands of people in the whole of the United States, or do you mean a particular city or state?
So where is the link for this information and where is the warning on the packages to dispose of these in a special place.
2 people like this
@slickcut (8141)
• United States
9 Jun 08
Are you referring to those twisted looking light bulbs? If so i bought some for my house because my sister said they save on your light bill.I had no idea that they were dangerous....The ones i bought looks like little twisted bulbs and do not look like the regular bulbs...
2 people like this
@SheliaLee (2736)
• United States
10 Jun 08
My husband read about this somewhere after I had purchased quite a few of these bulbs. Since he found that out I haven't bought anymore of them. I appreciate you sharing this information with us, though, because it is very important. Have a great day!!
2 people like this
@DocRick (1)
• United States
14 Jul 08
Unfortunately, little do you realize, you have lived with this same danger for many, many years with each and every fluorescent bulb ever made and installed in places such as schools, stores, wharehouses and offices to name a few!!!
Get a clue folks and research your topic before inserting your foot you know where!!
@Tetchie (2932)
• Australia
9 Jun 08
I will still use them as they are far more eco friendly than the old light bulbs. They save me money - I have only ever had to change one so far, it was after 3 years of being in a place that had many power surges. The bulb wore out because of it. I have these bulbs throughout my house now. They use allot less power for allot more light which means burning less fossil fuels.
It has always been dangerous when light bulbs break, it's one of those things I take care with when I have to change one. Even if some products are not 100 ideal, sometimes we have to weigh up the pros and cons to make good ethical decisions.
2 people like this
@nancyrowina (3850)
•
9 Jun 08
I heard there were special instructions for disposing of these bulbs but as you say this is not printed on the packaging or widely talked about so lots of people are probably just throwing them in the bin. I bet nothing happens until people or animals start getting mercury poisoning, as local governments are having enough problems disposing of all our waste as it is without introducing another service to take our used light bulbs.
1 person likes this
@barehugs (8973)
• Canada
9 Jun 08
I can imagine they didn't include disposal instructions because they didn't want to alarm their potential Customers. After all sales are the bottom-line. Apparently these new bulbs do contain Mercury, but not as much as the old incandescence bulbs.
1 person likes this
@drknlvly6781 (6246)
• United States
30 Jun 08
Wow! How can they call these bulbs eco-friendly if you can't be around when they break, and you can't dispose of them the normal way. I was very lucky I guess, a couple of months ago I broke one of these bulbs myself. I picked up the big shards of glass, being careful not to cut myself, and then I vaccuumed the area where it broke. Luckily no one in the house got sick. And I hope I didn't cause any problems for anyone or anything at the dump, because I sure did put the broken pieces in the trash. How is it they are able to sell these bulbs at all, let alone call them eco-friendly if they cause so many problems???
1 person likes this
@drknlvly6781 (6246)
• United States
1 Jul 08
I think I was very lucky!!! I am prone to having migraines to begin with, and I don't remember having the slightest headache at all.
@irishmist (3814)
• United States
9 Jun 08
After reading the other responses I don't know what to believe. I myself don't use these bulbs in my house, as I have the touch lamps with the candle type bulbs which saves me money. In my kitchen & bathroom I have those bulbs taht are similar to flood light bulbs. I can tell you this though, at my job at the retirement home, we use these bulbs and I have noticed while sitting and reading in the staff bedroom with a free standing lamp next to me, that the bulb makes my skin look orange. I have wondered about this on occasion.
2 people like this
@Pose123 (21635)
• Canada
9 Jun 08
Hi barehugs, This is all new to me. I just installed these bulbs a few weeks ago. I also remember breaking one. I don't understand why these bulbs would be allowed on the market, especially without everything being printed on the packaging. Let's hope some changes are made soon. Blessings.
2 people like this
@highflyingxangel (9225)
• United States
9 Jun 08
If you weren't aware of the bulbs containing mercury then I think you probably are stupid or just aren't paying attention. The bulbs are ONLY a danger if the bulb breaks. If the bulb does, it's far too little mercury to cause hardly any problems. Besides, how on earth do you think some of the thermomators have in them? Mecury and yet we used to stick some of those in our mouths without a problem/worry. It's really not a big deal. I don't see why everyone is up in arms about a teeny tiny bit of mercury that can't cause much damage.
1 person likes this
@pyewacket (43903)
• United States
9 Jun 08
Thanks for his heads up barehugs. I've never gotten these bulbs, cause quite frankly they are expensive and when you're on a budget I have to opt for the regular bulbs just cause they are cheaper...I've hunted down a few articles about this just now...and like geez...even though they do save on energy, I would be a tad nervous now to ever think of using them--I have to admit to be a klutz and have dropped bulbs by mistake..
1 person likes this
@sassygirlanne007 (4517)
• United States
9 Jun 08
wow thanks for posting this. I have some of those light bulbs in my house and its nice to know these type of things.
@julyteen (13252)
• Davao, Philippines
29 Jun 08
that sounds really scary. a lot o people, i am sure, who are using that kind of bulb do not know about the hazard it brings to their family. i am glad that you posted this information here in my lot. now, at least, people will know about it. thank you for the information. it will save lives.
