What amount of radioactivity is produced by energy saving light bulbs?

Question

What amount of radioactivity is produced by energy saving light bulbs?

Answer 1

The current flowing through the mercury vapor in the lamp releases mostly ultraviolet light, which is converted to visible light by a phosphor coating inside the bulb.  See below.

(Note: electromagnetic radiation such as light is different from nuclear radiation.)

Answer 2

I don't think they produce any radioactivity.  All fluorescent light bulbs generate light through a chemical reaction between some kind of gas and a small drop of mercury.  I'm pretty sure they've always been made this way.  It's the small amount of mercury that is considered potentially dangerous.

Answer 3

hello dear

if you want to light a light bulb using radioactive elements you need just a fraction that amounts a 10000000th part is decipated only.

Answer 4

CFLs generate some higher electrical frequencies which both radiate from the light unit itself, and transfer along the interconnecting electrical wiring. It can result in electronic interference with some other devices.

The amount of mercury released by one bulb can exceed U.S. federal guidelines for chronic exposure. So radioactivity isn't the primary problem.