New studies: show the energy efficient lightbulbs may be a danger to a person's health when broken because of the mercury inside. Lindsey Davidson / PHOTO EDITOR
Two studies released by the state of Maine and the Vermont-based Mercury Policy Project earlier this year concluded energy efficient fluorescent bulbs can pose a small hazard of mercury poisoning to young children and pregnant women, when broken.
Mercury, a chemical element found and used in a variety of applications, is known to produce a variety of harmful side effects, if a person was to be exposed. The side effects range from chest pain and cough for short-term exposure, to hallucinations and delirium for long-term exposure.
Mercury is needed for bulbs to produce light, and there are no known substitutes. No mercury is exposed during the habitual burning of the bulb; however, some is vaporized when the bulbs break, and this is where the risk comes into play.
“Any fluorescent bulb will have some mercury in it,” said Matthew Williams, coordinator for the Auburn Sustainability Initiative, who worked closely with the University in replacing old, out-of-date light bulbs around campus with new, energy-efficient ones.
“There has been a lot of discussion about this, and many have exacerbated the situation. In fluorescent bulbs, there is an amazingly small amount of mercury, less than in a watch battery or a normal thermometer.”
This statement appears to make sense, hence, the report issued by the Mercury Policy Project also advised homeowners and businesses to continue using fluorescents, because their energy-saving benefits surpass any potential negatives posed as a result of a broken fluorescent bulb. The report stressed common sense clean-up methods and other preventative measures to ensure young children are kept away from fluorescent bulbs.
“I would think we need to be more worried about young children and pregnant women who become exposed to mercury through the consumption of fish that contain high levels of mercury,” Williams said. According to the Environmental Protection Agency report released in 2004, “If you regularly eat types of fish that are high in mercury, it can accumulate in your blood stream over time. Mercury falls from the air and can accumulate in streams and oceans and is turned into methyl mercury in the water. It is this type of mercury that can be harmful to your unborn baby and young child. Fish absorb the methyl mercury as they feed in these waters, and so it builds up in them.”
Mercury exposure is certainly an issue on the minds of University officials when they dispose of their bulbs. “The green-tipped (Eco Friendly) bulbs are boxed up and disposed of in a trash dumpster. Any of the older style gray tipped bulbs are boxed up and sent to Auburn University’s Environmental Safety Program for management and recycling, so that they can be properly disposed of,” said Ken Martin, the Campus Energy Manager at Auburn.
Although easily avoidable, mercury exposure does pose serious health risks, and all students and faculty are encouraged to use common sense when dealing with broken fluorescent bulbs and are also encouraged to find maintenance personnel if such a problem was to arise in the future.
August 7, 2008 - 12:59pm
CFL's
Oh pleeeeze! Another scare over a consumer product. We played with mercury in our hands when we were kids and have broken many flouro tubes as well once they burned out. I'm still alive and kicking, gradutated from Auburn and am a productive citizen. Quit scaring the public over every little 'toxic' substance they might never even encounter. I'm sure that grilling meat on the grill is worse for me...lol!