The CFL mercury nightmare - DiscussWorldIssues - Socio-Economic Religion and Political Uncensored Debate

**janeseymore09092** · 04-30-2007, 10:21 PM

The CFL mercury nightmare - Steven Milloy, Financial Post

How much money does it take to screw in a compact fluorescent light bulb? About US$4.28 for the bulb and labour -- unless you break the bulb. Then you, like Brandy Bridges of Ellsworth, Maine, could be looking at a cost of about US$2,004.28, which doesn't include the costs of frayed nerves and risks to health.

Sound crazy? Perhaps no more than the stampede to ban the incandescent light bulb in favour of compact fluorescent light bulbs (CFLs).

According to an April 12 article in The Ellsworth American, Bridges had the misfortune of breaking a CFL during installation in her daughter's bedroom: It dropped and shattered on the carpeted floor.

Aware that CFLs contain potentially hazardous substances, Bridges called her local Home Depot for advice. The store told her that the CFL contained mercury and that she should call the Poison Control hotline, which in turn directed her to the Maine Department of Environmental Protection.

The DEP sent a specialist to Bridges' house to test for mercury contamination. The specialist found mercury levels in the bedroom in excess of six times the state's "safe" level for mercury contamination of 300 billionths of a gram per cubic meter. The DEP specialist recommended that Bridges call an environmental cleanup firm, which reportedly gave her a "low-ball" estimate of US$2,000 to clean up the room. The room then was sealed off with plastic and Bridges began "gathering finances" to pay for the US$2,000 cleaning. Reportedly, her insurance company wouldn't cover the cleanup costs because mercury is a pollutant.

--MORE--

Perhaps her mistake was calling in the first place. I've played w/ Mercury when I was a kid and I turned out all right.

**Sopsneork** · 04-30-2007, 10:26 PM

I would have never dreamed that these fragile light bulbs contained mercury!!! Geeze Louis!

**DaleJrGirl** · 04-30-2007, 10:57 PM

That's crazy.
I never would of dreamed one of those bulbs could break by falling on shag carpeting.
I've never broken one myself & I've been using them for about 5 or 6 yrs.

Here Is an article from the town newspaper.

http://ellsworthmaine.com/site/index...7446&Itemid=31

04-30-2007, 10:21 PM	#1
janeseymore09092 Join Date Nov 2005 Posts 410 Senior Member	The CFL mercury nightmare The CFL mercury nightmare - Steven Milloy, Financial Post How much money does it take to screw in a compact fluorescent light bulb? About US$4.28 for the bulb and labour -- unless you break the bulb. Then you, like Brandy Bridges of Ellsworth, Maine, could be looking at a cost of about US$2,004.28, which doesn't include the costs of frayed nerves and risks to health. Sound crazy? Perhaps no more than the stampede to ban the incandescent light bulb in favour of compact fluorescent light bulbs (CFLs). According to an April 12 article in The Ellsworth American, Bridges had the misfortune of breaking a CFL during installation in her daughter's bedroom: It dropped and shattered on the carpeted floor. Aware that CFLs contain potentially hazardous substances, Bridges called her local Home Depot for advice. The store told her that the CFL contained mercury and that she should call the Poison Control hotline, which in turn directed her to the Maine Department of Environmental Protection. The DEP sent a specialist to Bridges' house to test for mercury contamination. The specialist found mercury levels in the bedroom in excess of six times the state's "safe" level for mercury contamination of 300 billionths of a gram per cubic meter. The DEP specialist recommended that Bridges call an environmental cleanup firm, which reportedly gave her a "low-ball" estimate of US$2,000 to clean up the room. The room then was sealed off with plastic and Bridges began "gathering finances" to pay for the US$2,000 cleaning. Reportedly, her insurance company wouldn't cover the cleanup costs because mercury is a pollutant. --MORE-- Perhaps her mistake was calling in the first place. I've played w/ Mercury when I was a kid and I turned out all right. Share Share this post on Digg Del.icio.us Technorati Twitter
	Quote

04-30-2007, 10:26 PM	#2
Sopsneork Join Date Oct 2005 Posts 404 Senior Member	I would have never dreamed that these fragile light bulbs contained mercury!!! Geeze Louis! Share Share this post on Digg Del.icio.us Technorati Twitter
	Quote

04-30-2007, 10:57 PM	#3
DaleJrGirl Join Date Oct 2005 Posts 426 Senior Member	That's crazy. I never would of dreamed one of those bulbs could break by falling on shag carpeting. I've never broken one myself & I've been using them for about 5 or 6 yrs. Here Is an article from the town newspaper. http://ellsworthmaine.com/site/index...7446&Itemid=31 Share Share this post on Digg Del.icio.us Technorati Twitter
	Quote

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