Hi,
I have just heard that there is mercury in energy saving light bulbs and have heard this is very dangerous! Can anyone confirm thsi for me and explain the dangers and how I should dispose of these.
Mercury vapor is very toxic, causing brain damage, retardation, insanity, blindness. If a mercury bulb exploded in your room or if it smash it would take some clean to make the place safe from toxins. If Mercury liquid thrown into a pizza oven, it would cause scores of poisonings from mercury vapor before the source was tracked down and cleaned out.
QUOTE (PIATLAS+Mar 11 2008, 06:24 AM)
Mercury vapor is very toxic, causing brain damage, retardation, insanity, blindness. If a mercury bulb exploded in your room or if it smash it would take some clean to make the place safe from toxins. If Mercury liquid thrown into a pizza oven, it would cause scores of poisonings from mercury vapor before the source was tracked down and cleaned out.
Well, that explains you then
!
Well, that explains you then
!
Excellent reference, Paul,
People scare easily, especially when there is some truth involved. Most of the time it's just common sense to protect yourself cleaning up these types of things. I remember being told to be careful with mercury when I was a kid (which at that time meant wear gloves when playing with the cool contents of a broken thermometer!).
Thanks again,
Ron
People scare easily, especially when there is some truth involved. Most of the time it's just common sense to protect yourself cleaning up these types of things. I remember being told to be careful with mercury when I was a kid (which at that time meant wear gloves when playing with the cool contents of a broken thermometer!).
Thanks again,
Ron
Something else to consider.
Mercury is released into the atmosphere from burning coal.
~ 50% of our electricity comes from burning coal.
Even if NO PRECAUTIONS were taken when disposing off Fluor. lights (i.e. being placed in a landfill where leaching is contained) and ALL the mercury within them made it into the environment,
STILL,
The savings in energy from the use of a FL vs an Incand. Light, which results in a reduction of coal burned, would yield an overall NET reduction in Mercury being released into the environment.
Arthur
Mercury is released into the atmosphere from burning coal.
~ 50% of our electricity comes from burning coal.
Even if NO PRECAUTIONS were taken when disposing off Fluor. lights (i.e. being placed in a landfill where leaching is contained) and ALL the mercury within them made it into the environment,
STILL,
The savings in energy from the use of a FL vs an Incand. Light, which results in a reduction of coal burned, would yield an overall NET reduction in Mercury being released into the environment.
Arthur
QUOTE (PIATLAS+Mar 11 2008, 06:24 AM)
Mercury vapor is very toxic, causing brain damage, retardation, insanity, blindness. .
How about sterility and senility.....gads, hope I never get it.
How about sterility and senility.....gads, hope I never get it.
So what is the status on the LED bulbs? last time I looked into them the complaint was that they were still not omni-directional enough.
QUOTE (paul h+Mar 15 2008, 08:05 AM)
So what is the status on the LED bulbs? last time I looked into them the complaint was that they were still not omni-directional enough.
They are WAY expensive and not particularly more efficient (current models) than CFLs.
Example
http://www.superbrightleds.com/specs/E27-G50-W6.htm
This LED bulb uses 6 watts and puts out 250 lumens (pretty low) can't operate above 23 C without fan cooling and can't be dimmed.
Its rated for 10,000 hrs (as long as you keep it cool) and costs $37.00.
Now compare this to a CFL:
http://www.bulbamerica.com/6x-Compact-Fluo...category_id=770
This CFL uses 11 watts but puts out 480 lumens (more useful size (eq 60 watt Incand) and at the same watt per lumen as the LED), it can operate over a wider range of temps (and no fan), like the Led it can't be dimmed and its life expectancy is a bit less at 8,000 hours but its COST is but $6.00
LEDs appear to have a LONG way to go before they are competitive except in particular applications (they are essentially immune to vibration for instance, they can give a much more intense FOCUSED beam, and do it at low wattages and low heat)
Arthur
They are WAY expensive and not particularly more efficient (current models) than CFLs.
Example
http://www.superbrightleds.com/specs/E27-G50-W6.htm
This LED bulb uses 6 watts and puts out 250 lumens (pretty low) can't operate above 23 C without fan cooling and can't be dimmed.
Its rated for 10,000 hrs (as long as you keep it cool) and costs $37.00.
Now compare this to a CFL:
http://www.bulbamerica.com/6x-Compact-Fluo...category_id=770
This CFL uses 11 watts but puts out 480 lumens (more useful size (eq 60 watt Incand) and at the same watt per lumen as the LED), it can operate over a wider range of temps (and no fan), like the Led it can't be dimmed and its life expectancy is a bit less at 8,000 hours but its COST is but $6.00
LEDs appear to have a LONG way to go before they are competitive except in particular applications (they are essentially immune to vibration for instance, they can give a much more intense FOCUSED beam, and do it at low wattages and low heat)
Arthur
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