Not So Innocent Fluorescent Bulb

Fluorsecent light bulbs have a new spotlight on them since they are well known for the energy saving. If each American household will replace one bulb to these fluoresecnet bulbs, we would save enough energy to light more than 3 million homes for a year, more than $600 million in annual energy costs (Energy Star, 2008). Since many of us are aware of the benefits of fluorescent light bulbs because they are longer-lasting and cut down your energy bill at your home. Few, however, are volunteering to properly recycle these “innocent” fluorescent light bulbs despite officials and others say the potential health and environmental hazard if hundreds of millions of light bulbs are simply broken and tossed into general trash that will end up in landfills.

The actual “evil” behind these light bulbs are fine mercury-containing powder that can evaporate based on its volatility and it is difficult to clean up once in the air. Mercury, a neurotoxin, is responsible for damaging brain development on fetuses, babies, and small children (CFL Bulbs, 2007). For these health hazards, the broken light bulb should be treated properly. If broken, open the window for good ventilation to lower mercury concentration and handle the mercury-containing powder with care. Pick up the mercury powder with sticky tape and paper and never use a vacuum preventing mercury dust from releasing into the air. (Mercury, 2008)

With the popularity of these light bulbs on the rise, the recycling effort is not enough in many areas. Manufacturers and governments are working hand in hand and trying to come up with recycling facilities for proper mercury disposal such as developing recycling programs similar to ink cartridge. Researchers are also trying to come up with a substitute synthetic chemical that can replace the mercury inside these light bulbs. So far researchers have no luck.

Until the newly design fluorescent light bulb is successfully developed in the future, we can simply take our fluorescent light bulb to local recycling facilities. For more information on local recycling facilities, you can visit the following websites below. www.epa.gov/epaoswer/hazwaste/id/univwast/lamps/live.htm, www.recycleabulb.com/locations/index.aspx,
www.lamprecycling.com/?ilbcode=584&gclid=CKrr3ci7iJQCFQWVFQodm1ekWA

Work Cited:

Work Cited: Energy Star. 2008. Compact Fluorescent Light Bulbs, June 1, 2008. http://www.energystar.gov/index.cfm?c=cfls.pr_cfls
NPR. February 15, 2007. CFL Bulbs Have One Hitch: Toxic Mercury. May 30, 2008. http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=7431198 EPA. May 28, 2008. Merucry-Spills, Disposal, and Site Cleanup. May 30, 2008. http://www.epa.gov/mercury/spills/index.htm