Quicksilver

In my last post I discussed the phase out of incandescent light bulbs because they can not meet new federal efficiency standards (EISA). The compact fluorescent bulb is and has been a much more efficient alternative and will continue to be so for the foreseeable future. The “problem” with CFLs and all fluorescent lights is they contain mercury. Some of the comments I received pointed out several different facets of the mercury issue.

The first is toxicity and the potential for poisoning from a broken bulb. To put this into some kind of perspective, I remember quite well during a class in 5th grade when the teacher had mercury in a test tube. She poured it out on a desk with some flowing on to the floor. We all found it great fun to watch the teacher try and coral the wayward dollop of mercury, which she eventually did and class went on as normal.

A few years ago in a Connecticut classroom a similar incident occurred. Anyone seeing the news story and emergency response (the entire school was evacuated) would have thought it was enriched uranium had been spilled. The law in Connecticut states any amount of mercury spilled, no matter how miniscule must be reported, thus the response.

As far as I know no one from my 5th grade class, including the teacher, ever developed mercury poisoning.

I will not argue that a broken fluorescent bulb must be treated with caution when cleaned up, but it seems unlikely mercury poisoning will occur to the occupants of the home. On average a CFL bulb contains about 4mgs of mercury, enough to barely cover the tip of a ball point pen. The most common cause of mercury poisoning is eating tainted fish. The other issue is disposal. Apparently recycling is not available everywhere in the country for fluorescent bulbs or tubes. To me this is a larger issue than toxicity from breakage in the home. Throwing CFLs out in the trash will most assuredly cause mercury to leech into the ground water.

Another consideration is that CFLs actually reduce mercury in the environment. Coal burning power plants emitted about 51 tons of mercury into the air in 2006 (mercury emissions have been in decline due to tougher regulations). Because CFLs use less electricity, their use reduces mercury emissions. Also since the mercury is contained, it can be controlled, which is another good argument for a push to make recycling CFLs easier and more common place.

In my opinion the CFL bulb is not the ultimate answer to energy efficient lighting, but simply a stepping stone to LED lights. LEDs are even more efficient than CFLs and do not contain mercury. Currently they are quite expensive and limited in variety. I’m sure that will change with time and as the EISA begins to take effect.

Change is most often good, responsible change is even better. Through education and responsibility this transition can be much less painful for all. In time the Edison incandescent light bulb will only be an object seen in museums and history books.

For anyone looking to recycle CFLs in their area try Earth911.com.

James Quarello
Connecticut Home Inspector
2010 - 2011 SNEC-ASHI President
NRSB #8SS0022
JRV Home Inspection Services, LLC

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