CFL Dangers

[mave454]

It's beyond me that these things are as dangerous as they are and you're expected to replace the old ones and have them in your home. Ridiculous. We have to do better than that.

[02585975]

they contain 2,000 times less mercury than thermometers

[kdgfg]

time to write the gov. I think

[123allrock]

They should require CFL lamps to be housed in a shatter proof envelope around the lamp tube so it cant be broken during use or when recycled, the ballast should also have over current under voltage high temp limit protection. it would be even better if the lamp tube with shatter protection was replaceable reusing the smart ballast base (which senses the bulbs end of life and shuts off )

[shuntedbywing]

the light these things give off is terrible TBH. if any of you know what a 'defraction grating' is go and look at one of these blubs with it. Then go and look at a normal filament globe. YOu will see that the CFL has its light broken up into blocks vs the smooth rainbow of the filament. Thats why you cant see so many colors with these lights. Cos the light just isnt there!.

Case in point i refuse to use these lights and opted for 12v halogen globes insted!

[420chronmasta]

dont break it, problem solved lol

[coparpanzeruser]

You can keep them--I've had two of these things start arcing and putting out some pretty acrid smoke plus the glass tube cracked from the heat. Never had that happen with my tube workshop lights

[simpsonstewie]

i just use them outside and in my garage... so im safe. plus they are brighter

[seonfox]

@simpsonstewie they are definitely not brighter. not sure what you are using.

[Fis10n]

i hate these things... i tried to screw one in and it smashed n my hand...

these shitty ass lightbulbs....i might buy out all the stock at my local home depot and smash them right on obamas doorstep for making us use these junky lights...and i might go chop down one of those noisy ass windmills the seem to pop up everywhere and have little effect

[Dell0304]

I rather like these bulbs. they produce whiter light, no stupid "yellow effect"and they save money!

[LifesHardLessons]

How much mercury is in one of these bulbs? Does anyone know? A gra?m two? three? I've only broke one 4 years ago I didn't do all that cleaning! Threw the bulb which was 90% intact and vacuumed the rug

[TheGeek1028]

@LifesHardLessons ...more like about 5-10 mg.

[HCVguy93]

Bullshit. I broke a CFL in my SMALL room once and used a shop vac to vacuum it up. NOTHING HAPPENED!! They DO NOT cause eye strain, they DO NOT cause migraines, and depression? Give me a break! This is fake. CFL's are good. I use them in EVERY SINGLE fixture in my house indoors AND outdoors. NO problems. Never had a migraine, NEVER had ANY eye strain, or ANY problems.

[windturbine1983]

Agreed!

[TheMash84]

@HCVguy93

So because you haven't any symphtoms it means that they are safe or its a fake?

Who the fuck are you, are you a scientist? A medic?

Do you know how a CFL bulb works?

Do you know what is a ballast and how it works?

Do you know what is a high intensity discharge lamp?

I think not, because If you knew it you didnt write such useless comment.

[TheMash84]

@HCVguy93 What do you thinked what should be happened when you vacuumed it? Sudden death? CFL bulbs contains phosphor and mercury vapour, in order of 4mg. Mercury cause cancer in many way, especially when its breathen. Last, but not least, mercury can cause severe pollution and various diseases. Study before write useless thing. Oooh.. Car are good! I breathe every day exhaust gases from cars and I had no migraine, breath difficulties, disease and anything else. Car exhausts are SAFE!!! ....

[Zagurzem]

I knew going green kills you!

[The1JoeTurbo]

0:37 glass? WEED MUCH?

[02585975]

the bulb they broke was TCP those only contain 1.5 millagrams of mercury

[Azteka]

hey somebody can tell me about liquid mercury, when i was around 10 i used to play with liquid mercury, now im 26 and i iahve a son, i had some blood test but there is nothing, oh and yes in my whole life i had broke around 5 or 6 cfl bulbs, so just wodenring how much of this mercury could give u cancer?

[ThanksIKnowImlucky]

@Azteka Not sure about cancer, but do some online searches for yourself, mercury can cause alot of degenerative diseases, including digestive problems, and the CFL's cause migranes, also the blood test you had most likely didn't test your levels of mercury.

[jimbo4222]

I know they are still selling normal light bulbs (at least I think you can still buy them?) If not, I give it another 6 months before CFL's are the only ones on the market.

[stickedU]

You are inferior and you know it. I enjoy seeing angry white males like you knowing that you are loosing your grip on society. Ha women and minorities are now the power base,sit back this is our time to shine now fool.

[stickedU]

CFL bulbs are superior get over it you stupid people, after all your silly old inc. bulbs will soon be illegal ha. Green is the new thing.....I enjoy every single one of my cool cfl bulbs lighting my home and enjoy having low energy bills and a great piece of mind helping save the planet.

[BuzzTIB]

@stickedU

And when you throw them away they go to the landfill (as most people will) it goes into the environment. Oh, you take it to the recycling center you say? The amount of energy required for the center, those people to go to work and home, the extra process in making the bulbs, etc, etc, outways the energy supposedly saved by using CFL bulbs. Think people, THINK

[MrGreenvision]

Yes, it does take gas to drive to a recycling center, but now a days there are many places near by. You just drop them off and it gets picked up. CFl's are made by machines which reduces labor cost. Please look at the big picture. 50 million of Bulbs are deposit in land fills every year. That translates to 20,000lbs of waste. One twenty eight of a tea spoon can contaminate 25 Acres of water. So, if you look at the big picture, it does out weights the benefits or recycling. Think of the future!

[stickedU]

Ya the same amount of mercury found on a pinhead WOW!!!!!SO SCARY !!!!! Stop your fearmongering you rightwingers always do this. You know you can hold on to the bulbs until you make your next trip to the Home Depot to recycle them then you wont waste gas.....wow amazing eh? Just think a little... I cant wait until the ban the old nasty bulbs from your dirty hands, I hope they do the same with big trucks too, america isnt quite that evolved yet though...it amazes how dumb america is still

[JDoseawa]

@stickedU

The Department of Ecology warns that that amount of Mercury is a health hazard. In fact, so much that one CFL's worth of Mercury can pollute 6,000 gallons of water. Are they the fear mongers? Also, a family in NY had to pay over two thousand dollars to fear mongers to clean up the hazard.

It's also interesting that you have to revert to racist comments because you find opposition to your view. But, since you are so educated, perhaps you can find the DOE info on your own.

[mommydaddy7]

i use these bulbs to grow weed

[crazybeavers155]

O:  .

[pradeeprnh]

CFL are not dangerous if you dispose them correctly. Now you don't even have to throw away the burnt out CFL bulbs. They can be re-used. See the site makelifeeasy dot yolasite dot comm

[MrGreenvision]

Did u know old thermometers had 500mg of Mercury in them. Yeah! and many didn't think twice about putting them inside their mouths. New CFL'S contain 5mg of Mercury. Mercury is an essential component and necessary to be an efficient light source. How many lightbulbs have you broken in your life? If you say more than five, then you're very clumsy!. Had someone else install them for you. Think of the amount of money you are going to save in your energy bill.

[BuzzTIB]

@MrGreenvision And when you throw them away they go to the landfill (as most people will) it goes into the environment. Oh, you take it to the recycling center you say? The amount of energy required for the center, those people to go to work and home, etc, etc, outways the energy supposedly saved by using CFL bulbs. Think people, THINK

[ChrisBennett18]

why in the world they make a light with mercury in them they know what will happen if its broken the government is trying to kill us

[ps3master09]

yeah not only that there is mercury in it but it gives off a radiation that causes headaches and migraines plus some places make you pay to recycle them the one near me is 80 cents a bulb so i said screw this im never buying them again well in till the government forces us

[ChrisBennett18]

true and the government is scerwed and they are thinking communisms or socialism well there is no diffrents to them man my dad get those L.E.D lights so its safer the using those also they make those CFLs like a bright blue color because i seen them in my church i go to and its sooo irritating

[GSRJosh33]

I wouldnt worry about the light bulbs nearly as much as the mercury in everything you eat that has corn syrup.

[ChrisBennett18]

not everything has corn syrup in it they say its bad then its good but its actually bad for u

[MrGreenvision]

Unfortunately, Mercury is important to make the CFL's to work more efficiently. The level of Mercury inside the CFL's are not high enough to kill you. The amount of time exposed to the Mercury is the problem. 5mg of Mercury is a tiny amount and taking precaution is very important. Come on! No one was complaining about the Thermometers and those had 500mg in them.

[ChrisBennett18]

well why use something that has a toxic cemical thats harmful for the planet in a cfls i dont even know why they invented it u should use L.E.D lights they are more efficent then those cfls

[guitarrich92]

@ChrisBennett18 All fluorescent lights have mercury vapour in them... Its how they work...

[ChrisBennett18]

@guitarrich92 yes i know but they know that its toxic they shouldnt be selling toxic stuff, go with an L.E.D lights they are safer and use 90% less energy

[groov539]

@guitarrich92 That's like saying all motorcycles are dangerous. YOU DON'T HAVE TO DRIVE A MOTORCYCLE, DO YOU? THERE ARE THESE THINGS CALLED "CARS" YA KNOW.

[guitarrich92]

@groov539 not exactly what i was saying was it... I was just pointing out that it shouldn't be a surprise that they've got mercury vapour in them... its just how they work... its like suddenly one day going, "Hold the shit up, i'm driving down the motorway/freeway (whatever) at 80mph, in a car with gallons of highly flammable liquid under me... YOU DONT HAVE TO DRIVE CARS, DO YOU? THERE ARE THESE THINGS CALLED "FEET" YA KNOW! ;) its all relative...

[seonfox]

@groov539 Hey dumbass, as of 2012 you wont be able to buy any other sort of lightbulb! Go drive your "CAR" off a cliff

[craigjonesslipknot5]

@ChrisBennett18 Yeah and they're always telling kids on kid shows "and tell your parents to buy energy saving light bulbs to save the planet......."

[classicrockonly]

thermometers dont break that easily do they? fuck these bulbs, if government makes us buy these they are gonna get a lot of shit

[rollinshen]

They didn't explain what happens if you break one on carpet either. They say to cut out a 4x4 section.

So basically if you follow the rules. You'll be replacing carpet in that room.

[HellsBellsRockMusic]

I use CFL bulbs, but not in small trouble car lights, table lamps or desk lamps that could be easily knocked over. I use them is ceiling fixtures, large table lamps that are on a stable end table. CFLs do save energy and make less heat, so there great for summer time. They are best used on lights that will be left on for several hours at a time. Repeated on/off cycles will shorten CFL life.

[HellsBellsRockMusic]

CFLs will loose brightness with age, so start out with one that is slightly brighter than needed. A 13 watt t CFL that is equivalent to a 60 watt regular bulb will only be as bright as a 40 watt regular near the end of its life.

[HellsBellsRockMusic]

CFLs are safe, but use them where appropriate and handle them with care. When installing CFLs turn them by the base and not the bulb itself to avoid breakage. If you have small children or pets, CFLs should not be used where they could accidentally be knocked over and break, like table lamps. Or kids throwing toy balls ECT, around.

[Lisa282828]

There are many problems with CFLs. Poor quality light, radiation exposure. They cause eyestrain, migraines, depression. I am so tired of the gov't telling me what I can and cannot do. That is not freedom.

[LookItsRiceCake]

Blowing it way out of proportion...

Read a hammer. It suggests you wear gloves and goggles. Do you?

I rest my case. Everyone sets panic guidelines just to touch all bases.

Unless you open the bulb and suck the mercury right out of it, I find it damn near impossible, unless you break a hundred bulbs, to be seriously "exposed".

[tterb3914]

yeah I didn't know htis and It shatterd on my kitchen floor cleaned it up with my bare hands and feet im fine

[vikingscool]

You are lucky! Whew, you are fine!

[enigma99a]

You don't die overnight from it. But your cancer risk has been GREATLY increased.

[rootbrian]

Even WORSE, mercury, if it gets in the body, can cause neurological issues, such as speech and motor impairment.

Mercury doesn't cause cancer, if it does, it'll be open for questioning on yahoo answers and many other sites, including blogs.

[Jody519]

You ever clean up an old fashioned thermometer or have any old fillings in your teeth. They contain more mercury than CFLs. They really should be handled with care, but so does the use of bleach.

[NiceCar2008]

what do you mean? fillings? for teeth? can you educate me please.

[TheGeek1028]

Old fillings use an amalgam-type substance that combines mercury with another metal. Eventually, the mercury seperates from the other metal and evaporates. Mercury is one of the few liquid metals, by the way. It is found in thermometers, barometers, Mercury Vapor and Metal Halide HID bulbs, Linear and Compact Fluorescent, and some old switches (not the standard wall switch). In other words, see a liquid-y, silvery metal? Call HASMAT as soon as possible.

[nightshot103]

tterb3914, you think you're fine.

[Vnix]

you're a real asshole.