Toxic mercury: fluorescent or incandescent light bulbs. What’s better?

by William Atkins

Monday, 06 October 2008

Page 1 of 3 ! Researchers from Yale University have conducted a study showing compact fluorescent lamps (CFLs) instead of incandescent bulbs produce a net global reduction of toxic mercury emissions. However, not all parts of the world should use them—instead they should stay with incandescent bulbs. Why? Find out below! Their article “Spatial Assessment of Net Mercury Emissions from the Use of Fluorescent Bulbs” was published in the journal Environmental Science and Technology. The authors of the EST paper are: Matthew J. Eckelman, Paul T. Anastas, and Julie B. Zimmerman, all from Yale University, New Haven, Connecticut, U.S.A. The purpose of their research is to highlight the concern of mercury in fluorescent light, which, as they say in their abstract, “is an important technology for reducing electrical energy demand.” Fluorescent bulbs save energy when compared to incandescent bulbs, but they also contain a small amount of mercury. Such a tiny amount of toxic mercury is not a danger to individuals who use them, but all of them, as a group, can be a serious problem to the environment if they are not recycled but, instead, just thrown away into landfills and other such waste deposal spots. And, they may become an increasing problem because we are using larger amounts of mercury within these greater numbers of CFSs. Incandescent bulbs do not contain mercury, but coal–fired power plants, which help to manufacture these incandescent bulbs, does emit mercury in their processes. CFLs are found as compact fluorescent light bulbs, which are intended to replace incandescent bulbs because they can fit into existing light fixtures previously used by incandescents. Read page two for comparisons of fluoresent and incandescent bulbs, and the conclusions of this Yale study. << First page <   1 2 3 Next page > Last page - Post your comment >>

 

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