In 2007, Australia became the first country to announce a phase-out of the incandescent bulb. As they disappeared from the shelves, energy efficient compact fluorescent lamps (CFL’s) soon dominated the market. Although it is not universally liked, this type of lighting is taking over the nation’s sockets.
All CFL’s contain small amount of the toxic element mercury, which is used in the lamps as a means of producing light. This has aroused some concern in the community due to the risks from breakage. UK authorities have advised that if one of these lamps breaks, people should vacate the room for fifteen minutes to avoid inhaling harmful mercury vapour. Health effects from mercury exposure include damage to the nervous system, lungs, and kidneys, plus a threat to unborn children.
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However, the industry points out that the quantity of mercury emitted by a coal-fired power station in powering an incandescent globe is greater than the combined total of emissions from powering a CFL plus its mercury content. While 100% of the mercury in a CFL can be recycled, all the power station emissions will enter the environment.
Other uses of the liquid metal include fluorescent strip lighting, certain types of specialist lighting, thermometers, and amalgam fillings. It also concentrates in some larger species of fish such as marlin, broadbill and shark. To avoid buying items with mercury, white composite fillings can be used in place of amalgams, and mercury-free thermometers exist, including the digital variety.
News has recently been emerging of hundreds of workers becoming sick from mercury exposure in the Chinese factories that make CFL’s, and some of them have even required hospital treatment. Within the industry, which is concentrated in the eastern cities of Foshan and Guangzhou, health and safety standards vary widely from one workplace to another. Chinese-owned factories are generally worse in this respect than those owned by foreign multinationals such as Osram.
As part of the manufacturing process, a tiny amount of mercury must be handled in solid or liquid form, and of the two, solid pellets are far safer. An additional advantage of pellets is the ability to better control the dose going into each unit. However, as the technology advances, mercury content is falling and some lamps on the market now contain only one milligram (mg) of mercury, as opposed to an EU limit of 5mg.
South-west China also used to have a number of active mercury mines, where the element was dug up in the form of mercury sulphide. Mining involved forced labourers working in primitive conditions, and unfortunately it caused significant environmental and health damage in the surrounding area. This, coupled with a drop in global demand caused the mines to shut down, but now the demand for mercury to use in CFL’s has led to the reopening of at least one mine.
When disposing of an intact CFL, try to track down recycling drop-off facilities in the local area, or alternatively stockpile CFL’s in a rigid container (to guard against accidental breakage) while the range of choices grows. If they must be sent to landfill, it is best to first wrap them in newspaper. Fluorescent tubes, which contain a larger quantity of mercury, are often accepted at the same drop-off points.
Two Australian recycling companies, CMA Ecocycle and Chemsal, both accept bulk quantities of fluorescent lights from sources such as retail businesses and hospitals.
In November, federal and state environment ministers are expected to discuss whether to introduce national rules for the disposal of both CFL’s and fluorescent tubes.
Alternatives to CFL’s that remain on the market include halogen globes that resemble incandescents but are more efficient. Light Emitting Diodes (LED’s) are highly efficient, but do not emit sufficient light to substitute for a CFL in most parts of the house. However, they are improving rapidly while the price is also dropping.
RESOURCES
Federal Government CFL and mercury site Â
www.environment.gov.au/settlements/waste/lamp-mercury.html
CMA Ecocycle
Chemsal
