Guest guest Posted November 14, 2007 Report Share Posted November 14, 2007 now here's a paranoid question -- can anyone explain the risks of using those curvy bulbs filled with mercury---- are they only a problem if they break... do you think they emit any mercury emissions while burning bright in the light socket in our home in my son's room. aaagghhh! the sky is falling. and Trina Sherman wrote: Hello, Where do you dispose of used florescent bulbs? Does anyone have a phone # in Austin or a place I can tell my neighbors about? It would also be helpful if I knew how much mercury is in those curvy bulbs and how much is in a thermometer and how toxic it is. My neighbors secretly call me chicken little so I want to make sure I send them the information on WHY the sky is falling. Grins. Trina Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted November 14, 2007 Report Share Posted November 14, 2007 I found this when I put " Compact Fluorescent bulbs and Mercury " into my search engine Frequently Asked Questions Information on Compact Fluorescent Light Bulbs (CFLs) and Mercury ... prohibit such trash disposal and require that broken and unbroken lamps be taken ... http://www.energystar.gov/ia/partners/promotions/change_light/downloads/Fact_She\ et_M... They admit on the site that there is a small amount of mercury (as much as on the tip of a ball-point pen) contained in the bulb and recommend you " air out " the room for 15 minutes after a bulb is broken, then " double -bag " the remaining debris and wear protective gloves. Just my opinion, but, ANY mercury, is TOO MUCH! I do not and will not have these bulbs in my child's room or in my home. The only place we have one is in my carport and that's only because the home owner's association maintains that area, and they elected to have them there (I voted no). My child has been poisoned enough with ignorance of the vaccines and the coal burning power plant we lived in the shadow of for so many years. Again, just my opinion. Look it up for yourselves and pass it along to your ney-saying neighbors. Just curious - but do they have a child on the spectrum as well? Carol --- Groogan wrote: > now here's a paranoid question -- can anyone explain > the risks of using those curvy bulbs filled with > mercury---- are they only a problem if they break... > do you think they emit any mercury emissions while > burning bright in the light socket in our home in my > son's room. aaagghhh! the sky is falling. > > > > and Trina Sherman > wrote: > Hello, > Where do you dispose of used florescent bulbs? Does > anyone have a phone > # in Austin or a place I can tell my neighbors > about? It would also be > helpful if I knew how much mercury is in those curvy > bulbs and how much > is in a thermometer and how toxic it is. My > neighbors secretly call me > chicken little so I want to make sure I send them > the information on WHY > the sky is falling. Grins. Trina > > > > > > > [Non-text portions of this message have been > removed] > > Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted November 14, 2007 Report Share Posted November 14, 2007 what about school? the grocery store? the library? home depot? they all have fluorescent lights. Carol Gunn wrote: I found this when I put " Compact Fluorescent bulbs and Mercury " into my search engine Frequently Asked Questions Information on Compact Fluorescent Light Bulbs (CFLs) and Mercury ... prohibit such trash disposal and require that broken and unbroken lamps be taken ... http://www.energystar.gov/ia/partners/promotions/change_light/downloads/Fact_She\ et_M... They admit on the site that there is a small amount of mercury (as much as on the tip of a ball-point pen) contained in the bulb and recommend you " air out " the room for 15 minutes after a bulb is broken, then " double -bag " the remaining debris and wear protective gloves. Just my opinion, but, ANY mercury, is TOO MUCH! I do not and will not have these bulbs in my child's room or in my home. The only place we have one is in my carport and that's only because the home owner's association maintains that area, and they elected to have them there (I voted no). My child has been poisoned enough with ignorance of the vaccines and the coal burning power plant we lived in the shadow of for so many years. Again, just my opinion. Look it up for yourselves and pass it along to your ney-saying neighbors. Just curious - but do they have a child on the spectrum as well? Carol --- Groogan wrote: > now here's a paranoid question -- can anyone explain > the risks of using those curvy bulbs filled with > mercury---- are they only a problem if they break... > do you think they emit any mercury emissions while > burning bright in the light socket in our home in my > son's room. aaagghhh! the sky is falling. > > > > and Trina Sherman > wrote: > Hello, > Where do you dispose of used florescent bulbs? Does > anyone have a phone > # in Austin or a place I can tell my neighbors > about? It would also be > helpful if I knew how much mercury is in those curvy > bulbs and how much > is in a thermometer and how toxic it is. My > neighbors secretly call me > chicken little so I want to make sure I send them > the information on WHY > the sky is falling. Grins. Trina > > > > > > > [Non-text portions of this message have been > removed] > > Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted November 14, 2007 Report Share Posted November 14, 2007 I can only control so much in the world. Those things that I have control over, I do , those things in which I do not, well, I try to limit my child's exposure as much as I can. It's not a perfect world. Carol --- A Chapman wrote: > what about school? the grocery store? the library? > home depot? they all have fluorescent lights. > > Carol Gunn wrote: I > found this when I put " Compact Fluorescent bulbs and > Mercury " into my search engine > > Frequently Asked Questions > Information on Compact Fluorescent Light Bulbs > (CFLs) > and Mercury ... prohibit such trash disposal and > require that broken and unbroken lamps be taken ... > http://www.energystar.gov/ia/partners/promotions/change_light/downloads/Fact_She\ et_M... > > They admit on the site that there is a small amount > of > mercury (as much as on the tip of a ball-point pen) > contained in the bulb and recommend you " air out " > the > room for 15 minutes after a bulb is broken, then > " double -bag " the remaining debris and wear > protective > gloves. > > Just my opinion, but, ANY mercury, is TOO MUCH! I do > > not and will not have these bulbs in my child's room > or in my home. The only place we have one is in my > carport and that's only because the home owner's > association maintains that area, and they elected to > have them there (I voted no). > > My child has been poisoned enough with ignorance of > the vaccines and the coal burning power plant we > lived > in the shadow of for so many years. > > Again, just my opinion. Look it up for yourselves > and > pass it along to your ney-saying neighbors. Just > curious - but do they have a child on the spectrum > as > well? > > Carol > --- Groogan wrote: > > > now here's a paranoid question -- can anyone > explain > > the risks of using those curvy bulbs filled with > > mercury---- are they only a problem if they > break... > > do you think they emit any mercury emissions while > > burning bright in the light socket in our home in > my > > son's room. aaagghhh! the sky is falling. > > > > > > > > and Trina Sherman > > wrote: > > Hello, > > Where do you dispose of used florescent bulbs? > Does > > anyone have a phone > > # in Austin or a place I can tell my neighbors > > about? It would also be > > helpful if I knew how much mercury is in those > curvy > > bulbs and how much > > is in a thermometer and how toxic it is. My > > neighbors secretly call me > > chicken little so I want to make sure I send them > > the information on WHY > > the sky is falling. Grins. Trina > > > > > > > > > > > > > > [Non-text portions of this message have been > > removed] > > > > > > > > > > > [Non-text portions of this message have been > removed] > > Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted November 14, 2007 Report Share Posted November 14, 2007 At the National Autism Conference, I spoke to someone who is researching this for SafeMinds. Evidently, the amount of Hg in the bulbs vary a great deal with the manufacturer. Most of these are now made in China and, predictably, the levels in those bulbs are much higher. I don't/won't use anything in my house that I know requires a haz mat cleanup procedure. Regards, -- In Texas-Autism-Advocacy , Carol Gunn wrote: > > I can only control so much in the world. Those things > that I have control over, I do , those things in which > I do not, well, I try to limit my child's exposure as > much as I can. It's not a perfect world. > > Carol > > --- A Chapman wrote: > > > what about school? the grocery store? the library? > > home depot? they all have fluorescent lights. > > > > Carol Gunn wrote: I > > found this when I put " Compact Fluorescent bulbs and > > Mercury " into my search engine > > > > Frequently Asked Questions > > Information on Compact Fluorescent Light Bulbs > > (CFLs) > > and Mercury ... prohibit such trash disposal and > > require that broken and unbroken lamps be taken ... > > > http://www.energystar.gov/ia/partners/promotions/change_light/download s/Fact_Sheet_M... > > > > They admit on the site that there is a small amount > > of > > mercury (as much as on the tip of a ball-point pen) > > contained in the bulb and recommend you " air out " > > the > > room for 15 minutes after a bulb is broken, then > > " double -bag " the remaining debris and wear > > protective > > gloves. > > > > Just my opinion, but, ANY mercury, is TOO MUCH! I do > > > > not and will not have these bulbs in my child's room > > or in my home. The only place we have one is in my > > carport and that's only because the home owner's > > association maintains that area, and they elected to > > have them there (I voted no). > > > > My child has been poisoned enough with ignorance of > > the vaccines and the coal burning power plant we > > lived > > in the shadow of for so many years. > > > > Again, just my opinion. Look it up for yourselves > > and > > pass it along to your ney-saying neighbors. Just > > curious - but do they have a child on the spectrum > > as > > well? > > > > Carol > > --- Groogan wrote: > > > > > now here's a paranoid question -- can anyone > > explain > > > the risks of using those curvy bulbs filled with > > > mercury---- are they only a problem if they > > break... > > > do you think they emit any mercury emissions while > > > burning bright in the light socket in our home in > > my > > > son's room. aaagghhh! the sky is falling. > > > > > > > > > > > > and Trina Sherman > > > wrote: > > > Hello, > > > Where do you dispose of used florescent bulbs? > > Does > > > anyone have a phone > > > # in Austin or a place I can tell my neighbors > > > about? It would also be > > > helpful if I knew how much mercury is in those > > curvy > > > bulbs and how much > > > is in a thermometer and how toxic it is. My > > > neighbors secretly call me > > > chicken little so I want to make sure I send them > > > the information on WHY > > > the sky is falling. Grins. Trina > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > [Non-text portions of this message have been > > > removed] > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > [Non-text portions of this message have been > > removed] > > > > > Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted November 14, 2007 Report Share Posted November 14, 2007 Hmmmmmmm, this reminds me of the " duck and cover " advice from the 50's as being the only things you needed to do to keep you safe during a nuclear blast. S. Re: florescent bulbs I found this when I put " Compact Fluorescent bulbs and Mercury " into my search engine Frequently Asked Questions Information on Compact Fluorescent Light Bulbs (CFLs) and Mercury ... prohibit such trash disposal and require that broken and unbroken lamps be taken ... http://www.energystar.gov/ia/partners/promotions/change_light/downloads/Fa ct_Sheet_M... They admit on the site that there is a small amount of mercury (as much as on the tip of a ball-point pen) contained in the bulb and recommend you " air out " the room for 15 minutes after a bulb is broken, then " double -bag " the remaining debris and wear protective gloves. . Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted November 14, 2007 Report Share Posted November 14, 2007 Someone on one of my Washington State autism listserves said she had to call a haz-mat team to clean up one of her rooms when one of those type of " energy saver " bulbs containing mercury broke. She was told to NOT vacuum it up or even touch the pieces but rather to close off the room and wait for the haz-mat team. After reading that, I will never buy one of those bulbs. When we had electricians here last spring and they suggested I buy some of those types of bulbs, I gave them a lecture about the (very poorly advertised) difficulty disposing of them, not to mention the health hazard they cause if they break. I'm honestly very surprised this hasn't had more play in the media. It seems like these bulbs must break relatively often, and if all these people are having to call haz-mat teams, you'd think it would be newsworthy. - Jimmy 10/12/2001 > Hello, > Where do you dispose of used florescent bulbs? Does anyone have a phone > # in Austin or a place I can tell my neighbors about? It would also be > helpful if I knew how much mercury is in those curvy bulbs and how much > is in a thermometer and how toxic it is. My neighbors secretly call me > chicken little so I want to make sure I send them the information on WHY > the sky is falling. Grins. Trina > > > > > > > Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted November 15, 2007 Report Share Posted November 15, 2007 There has been very little in the media until fairly recently. Unfortunately the danger is usually soft-pedalled even now. As an example CBS 11 (Dallas Fort Worth), on June 7, 2007 noted: " CFL Disposal & Recycling[:] Compact fluorescent lamps produce the same amount of light as standard incandescent bulbs while using up to 75% less energy and lasting up to ten times as long, but they contain about 5 mg of mercury per bulb. Find out how to dispose of and recycle the bulbs in the links below " (http://cbs11tv.com/links/local_programlink_158205628). 5 mg. is far from insignificant! However, they then refer you to the energy Star website that has you do your own cleanup, very dangerous indeed: http://www.energystar.gov/ia/partners/promotions/change_light/downloads /Fact_Sheet_Mercury.pdf. This is typical. As it happens, though, I saw a very good piece on the news last night-- I believe it was CBS/Dallas-Fort Worth (local). It isn't posted yet on the website. Another newspiece, which I'll paste below, gives a more real-world picture of the problem. Generally speaking you can find out a lot by sefinding out what the EPA considers must be disposed of as hazardous waste. This includes FLU SHOTS and dental amalgams, and fluorescent bulbs. Everyone should ask themselves, " is it likely that something that's too toxic to go into a landfill or the sewer is okay to go into me? " http://www.newstarget.com/021916.html Breaking a compact fluorescent light bulb could cost you $2,000 in toxic mercury cleanup Monday, June 25, 2007 by: Mike While large-scale marketing efforts tout cost savings of compact fluorescent light bulbs (CFLs), few are explaining the real cost -- to the environment and to individuals -- of broken or discarded CFLs. One consumer has learned that accidentally breaking a CFL could cost her more than $2,000. According to the newspaper Ellsworth American, Bridges of Prospect, Maine, has been given a conservative quote of $2,000 for toxic cleanup of one CFL broken in her home. Bridges broke the CFL as she was installing it in her daughter's bedroom. Because Bridges knew that CFLs contain hazardous materials, she called Home Depot for advice on how to clean up the broken bulb. The store directed her to a Poison Control hotline, which advised her to call the Maine Department of Environmental Protection (DEP). The DEP sent a specialist to Bridges' home who found that the mercury from one broken CFL created mercury levels in the child's bedroom that were greater than six times the state's " safe " level for mercury contamination. The specialist advised Bridges to engage an environmental cleanup firm; the firm gave her an estimate of $2,000 to clean up the broken CFL. The child's bedroom has been sealed off while Bridges attempts to raise the money for cleanup. According to media reports, Bridges' homeowner's insurance refuses to cover the cleanup because mercury is a known hazardous material. Celebrities, political candidates and retailers including Wal-Mart continue to promote CFLs as an economical and " green " alternative to other types of lighting. Even the EnergyStar division of the Environmental Protection Agency -- while admitting on its website that CFLs contain mercury -- stops short of calling a broken CFL " hazardous. " Like most proponents of CFLs, EnergyStar fails to mention the long-term dangers to the environment and the short-term dangers to well-meaning consumers who accidentally break a compact fluorescent light bulb. ### About the author: Mike is a natural health author and technology pioneer with a passion for sharing empowering information to help improve personal and planetary health He is a prolific writer and has published thousands of articles, interviews, reports and consumer guides, impacting the lives of millions of readers around the world who are experiencing phenomenal health benefits from reading his articles. is an honest, independent journalist and accepts no money or commissions on the third-party products he writes about or the companies he promotes. In 2007, launched EcoLEDs, a maker of super bright LED light bulbs that are 1000% more energy efficient than incandescent lights. He's also the founder and CEO of a well known email mail merge software developer whose software, 'Email Marketing Director,' currently runs the NewsTarget email subscriptions. is currently the executive director of the Consumer Wellness Center, a 501 ©3 non-profit, and enjoys outdoor activities, nature photography, Pilates and adult gymnastics. > Someone on one of my Washington State autism listserves said she had to call a haz-mat team to clean up one of her rooms when one of those type of " energy saver " bulbs containing mercury broke. <snip> I'm honestly very surprised this hasn't had more play in the media. It seems like these bulbs must break relatively often, and if all these people are having to call haz-mat teams, you'd think it would be newsworthy. - Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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