 Compact fluorescent lighting is a fixture for sustainable living. It is an easy way to reduce energy costs, but mercury content in the lighting, has some consumers concerned that the risks may outweigh the benefits.
The EPA reports that CFL’s use about 75% less energy than traditional incandescent lighting. Lighting in our homes accounts for approximately 20 percent of the average household's electric bill. CFLs are more energy efficient and have the ability to make a difference in our energy usage. This in turn helps prevent global warming.
CFL’s contain approximately 5 milligrams of mercury. By comparison, the mercury content of CFLs is significantly less than that of an older thermometer, which contains 500 milligrams of mercury. The EPA site in the state of Ohio reports that there are 3,000 milligrams of mercury found in some manual thermostats. Therefore, a mere 5 milligrams of mercury can be considered an acceptable risk especially when we will be saving the planet. There are definite and real procedures to follow when disposing of burned out or broken CFL’s.
If one breaks, then be sure to air out the space for 15 minutes. The EPA has these further guidelines:
“Remove all materials you can without using a vacuum cleaner. Wear disposable rubber gloves, if available (do not use your bare hands). Carefully scoop up the fragments and powder with stiff paper or cardboard. Wipe the area clean with a damp paper towel or disposable wet wipe. Sticky tape can be used to pick up the smaller pieces. Place all cleanup materials in a plastic bag and seal it. Then place in a second sealed plastic bag. If no other disposal or recycling options are available, private residents may dispose of the CFL in residential garbage. Be sure to seal the CFL in two plastic bags and put into the outside trash. Wash your hands after disposing of the bags. The first time you vacuum the area where the bulb was broken, remove the vacuum bag after cleaning the area (or empty and wipe the canister) and put the bag and/or vacuum debris, as well as the cleaning materials, in two sealed plastic bags in the outdoor trash or protected outdoor location for normal disposal.” However, very few people are going to properly dispose of these light bulbs. They will go directly into the trash just like they have always done. From there, it will go into the landfill. Over time, the mercury will seep into the groundwater and then become a potential environmental hazard.
Overall, CFL’s are safe and practical as long as you don't break one and you dispose of them properly. With the significant reduction of mercury emissions from coal-fired power plants, the real environmental danger will be future contamination from mercury leaking into the groundwater from all the improperly disposed of CFLs. Please follow the EPA guidelines when using CFL’s.
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