Qu: Are energy-saving bulbs the brightest idea?
Friday the 1st of August 2008
Qu: What’s your stance on energy saving light bulbs? I’ve heard several reports that they contain mercury and can be dangerous.
The media had a field day at the end of last year with some serious scaremongering regarding the dangers of energy-saving bulbs (CFL’s).
It all began when The Daily Mail picked up on a report by the Environment agency calling for a public awareness campaign to explain that the packaging of energy-efficient lighting contains small amounts of potentially toxic mercury and should therefore be disposed of with care.
The Mail ran a typically hysterical piece headlined “An energy saving bulb has gone - evacuate the room now!”
The general thrust of the article being, ‘energy-saving light bulbs are so dangerous that everyone must leave the room for at least 15 minutes if one falls to the floor and breaks.’
This is, of course, an exaggeration of the facts. Toxicologist Dr. David Ray, from the University of Nottingham, told the BBC that 6-8mg of mercury is present in a typical low-energy bulb. A pretty small amount considering thermometers, which we happily stick in our mouths, contain about 3 grams of the stuff.
Dr. Ray concludes that a smashed bulb causes little danger - but warns that this increases proportionately to consistent exposure and greater numbers of smashed bulbs. DEFRA also played down the threat to health, saying; ‘No amount of mercury is good for you, but the very small amount contained in a single modern CFL is unlikely to cause any harm, even if the lamp should be broken,’
(It’s also worth noting that strip lighting has always contained mercury - yet no-one seems to be complaining about that!)
The Mail went on to finger energy-saving bulbs as a potential source of cancer following a report by British Association of Dermatologists (BAD).
In this next distortion of the facts they claim that the ‘new’ lights (they’ve actually been around for over 30 years) “can trigger migraines, as well as dizziness, loss of focus and discomfort.” However the article goes on to say that these symptoms would only affect people already suffering from certain conditions (like epilepsy and photosensitivity). Dr Colin Holden from B.A.D. explains that people suffering from photosensitive skin conditions should be allowed to continue to use daylight (tungsten) bulbs to prevent “photosensitive eruptions ranging from disabling eczema-like reactions, to light sensitivities that can lead to skin cancer.”
Fine, those with a medical condition would obviously be prescribed the old bulbs, but that shouldn’t stop everyone else switching to CFL’s.
The real concern, the one that started this debate in the first place, is the environmental impact of disposing of the energy-saving bulbs. The Environment Agency’s call for a public information campaign acknowledges a need for greater awareness before tungsten bulbs are completely phased out. Careful disposal of the energy-saving bulbs will prevent the mercury content being released into the atmosphere. Thankfully more and more places now provide the facilities for you to drop off your used bulbs to be disposed of safely, including council refuse tips and some bulb retailers (Ikea, DIY stores etc.) and this service will become more widespread as CLF bulbs become more popular.
Besides, it’s reported that, even if everyone just threw their CFL light bulbs into the main rubbish to go to landfill, the amount of mercury entering the environment would still be less than that which currently enters the environment as a result of the production of the electricity needed to power all the traditional lightbulbs. Besides, CFL bulbs last far longer than traditional ones so there will be far less of them to throw away (source). So, no excuses, off you pop to the shops to buy your new bulbs…
Bethan
Another question about energy use in the home… The short answer is no; no electricity is being used because there is nothing completing the circuit in an empty socket - just as a lamp plugged in and switched off uses no energy.
