Will you continue using energy saving lightbulbs knowing that they are dangerous?

Question

If broken the government advise that you ventilate the room, and leave for fifteen minutes before cleaning up and wiping with a damp cloth, due to the mercury which can become airborne.

Answer 1

Yeah, yeah...I've been using them exclusively for six years now, and I will continue. I've never broken one. If I do, I'm sure it will be just fine. I'm old enough that we did actually play with mercury once or twice in elem. school.

Answer 2

People have been using the regular long tube or circular fluorescent tubes for decades and they had far, far more mercury in them and were are much easier to break.

  The energy -savings benefits as well as other environmental benefits (ie-they last many times longer than the incandescent bulbs they replace--less waste ,less trucking ,etc) Far outweigh the very minimal risks posed by the mercury in the compact fluorescent. So yes , I use and will continue to use compact .fluorescent bulbs

Answer 3

Sure.

If you're worried about this, better remove every regular fluorescent bulb in your house.  You're likely looking at one right now (it's how flat panel displays are lit).

Regular fluorescents contain 2-10 times as much mercury, and are easier to break.

More information here:

http://www.cityofberkeley.info/sustainab...

http://www.snopes.com/medical/toxins/cfl...

Answer 4

I have been using fluorescent light for over 30 years.  When they break, I sweep them up and throw the bits in the trash.

Answer 5

yes the amount of Mercury in fluro lights is nearly undetectable. you would probably have higher levels of Mercury in your blood if you ate large predatory fish.

Answer 6

i didn't know that. that's kind of upsetting.

what's your source? i'd like to learn more.

:)

Answer 7

Thats news to me,I would continue to use them but not wait too long befor you change them  as a precaution

Answer 8

Great question! Not sure if many people realize that these new "green" lights are made with mercury and need to be disposed off properly. In other words, these new light bulbs should by any circumstances be thrown away in your regular trash.

Answer 9

The problem is in the disposal of them.The councils can set up a place like the local library or the supermarkets could voluteer to be a depot like they do with the bottles etc then we can take them there and put them in a bin.Some countries do this already, same with batteries which also shouldnt got to the land fill.as these are longlife they shouldnt need disposal..how long do they last..actually..we can make ones that last virtually forever but theres no money in that

Answer 10

yea, i think if we wanna care all precaution activities, we'll go insane. imam ali says: the time u'll runnin away from death, u'll hug it.