I heard this the other day and had to look into it… when I found that it is true….. decided I needed to share it… so here GOes!
We all know the new environmentally friendly Lightbulbs are Flourescent dont we!
Well if you didn’t you do now….
Flourescent Lighting has various health effects such as increase in siezures in some
epileptics, But my concern is a little more far reaching.
Part of Process used in lighting these bulbs involves the use of mercury, yes the nasty heavy metal that accumilates in our bodies and does awful thing, remember the Mad Hatter. Mercury can also damage the kidneys and liver, and in sufficient quantities can cause death.
I hear you saying it ok is inside the light? all chemicals and Gasses are contained within the glass, yes! I agree, but Have you broken one while pushing it in the socket?
Dropped one on the floor?
Apparently you are suppose to dispose of these bulbs at appropriate places,
such as toxic waste dumps, and special collection areas, I dont have any toxic waste disposal areas near me, thank god do you?
When one of these bulbs breaks a certain amount of the mercury is vapourised into
ultra fine particles which we can breathe in. Each bulb contains between 5 and 6 milligrams of mercury, not alot remember it is an accumilative chemical.
Rising use of these lights and Governments fazing out if incandescent globes has the
many of the worlds scientists and EPA’s concerned
For the full news report from reuters Please Visit I Want to Breathe or go directly to Mercury in Energy Saving Bulbs has Scientists Worried
I do need to ask with the millions of these lights being sold world wide,
did you know about any health implications? Are they worth the risk?
Is there any health warnings or proper disposal instructions on the packets?
There isnt any here!
Hi Aussie – thanks for the heads-up. No – I didn’t know about these ingredients.
Always seems to be a negative for every positive doesn’t there? save the planet but kill yourself (in this case). With the PC brigade on the warpath for proper labelling etc – how come these have escaped?
Next thing they’ll be telling us that pollution in natural water levels isn’t measured at organic farming sites, and battery hens produce less bactieria in eggs than free range birds.
My head hurts!
Jonathan’s last blog post..Derby Cathedral Peregrine Falcons nesting
M head was swimming…… also I have these lights in 4 rooms….. and they are banning the incandescent lights here….. I actually dont like these new ones the light is not right, and flouros give me headaches ever since I was a kid….
We recently had a free range chicken farm in trouble for food poisoning, the largest chicken farm in Tassie,
aussiecynic’s last blog post..from the funny to the Weird!
I’ve only got one energy saving bulb in my apt, the rest are those halogen bulbs.
Can you get energy saving halogen bulbs?
Not sure Lib…
But I can look into it… I dont think you can though…. let me know If you would like me to look into it…kay
aussiecynic’s last blog post..from the funny to the Weird!
No need to go out of your way AC, it was just a question really as opposed to doing something about it.
It is interesting though as a lot of these new apts are very halogen bulb happy. And they must be worse than the old normal light bulbs.
Lib’s last blog post..GO! Smell the gangster rap?
We had no idea about this bulb issue AC and are onto it as well as mobile phone and battery disposal…..
Us flowers thought if you planted bulbs with TLC flowers would appear.
Maybe when the GO! Smell the flowers iconic exhibition opens at the Tate in 2012 we can show these bulbs being planted – this has seriously inspired us AC – GSTF in other mediums….not only highlights from this community but art, book covers and artistic representations of the goings on here in real form…
All founders producing their image in an artisitic way – seriously – its gonna happen.
(I) (I) (I)
Sounds very cool this end…. (l)
We could plant these bulbs in a garden surrounded by the Madhatters Tea Party… the bulbs could be lit up and everything.. my installation Idea brewing….
aussiecynic’s last blog post..from the funny to the Weird!
Cool – watch this concept grow in the next 12-24 months….
GO! Leave a legacy!
LEt me when I’ll be there……….
My votes in.. check your mail….lol…
aussiecynic’s last blog post..from the funny to the Weird!
Votes received AC – 10 in already from the founders…..!
Seriously founders gathering in 2010…..
No worries… will start saving ASAP…. 2010 sounds great…… how cool
Perhaps my lot here can do our dream trip altogether, have a feeling we are going to England… god knows when… just a feeling and a desire…
aussiecynic’s last blog post..from the funny to the Weird!
Disturbing! Especially, when the mercury preservative in immunization shots called Thimerosal, was and still is considered my many to be the reason for the Autism epidemic. I HAD these bulbs in my Autistic son’s room….they are now gone thanks to this post. Much obliged!
Another point….
Here, the government advises women who are pregnant and breastfeeding to limit their tuna(and other oily fish) intake due to it’s mercury content — it can harm the baby’s nervous system. Maybe they should be adding these bulbs to their list.
aussie, I’m blogging this for Autism month. Thank you, Dahling!
Empress Nightshade’s last blog post..AFRAID of the DARK??
No hassles at all….
Have a read of the link it is four pages long…. but very interesting…. as I learn more I will share…
We have been told not to eat any marine creatures from the Derwent River…. more than 3 times a week due to the mercury and other heavy metals… and much like your Tuna warnings.. Pregnant Women and young children are being told not eat it all……
We are removing these bulbs from our house as well until we can be given some guarentee that they are safe… but I am stocking up on the incandescent bulbs for when they are taken away….
aussiecynic’s last blog post..from the funny to the Weird!
it is still better to adhere on organic farming because the fruits and vegetables does not contain those harmful chemicals.;.~
Good shout Arthur and welcome to coffee!!