Is Our Government Trying To Kill Us?

General Electric has been making compact fluorescents for 20 years. Now the company admits that the mercury in each bulbs could become a real problem if sales balloon as expected.





"I share your frustration that there isn't a national infrastructure for the proper recycling of this "EPA is actively engaged with trying to find a solution that works for these retailers around recycling the product, because it's really, really important," says Wendy Reed, who manages EPA's Energy Star program.



But so far, she says the biggest sellers of the bulbs haven't stepped up to the plate." Reed says.





The problem with the bulbs is that they'll break before they get to the landfill. They'll break in containers, or they'll break in a dumpster or they'll break in the trucks. Workers may be exposed to very high levels of mercury when that happens," says John Skinner, executive director of the Solid Waste Association of North America, the trade group for the people who handle trash and recycling.



Skinner says when bulbs break near homes, they can contaminate the soil. Mercury is a potent neurotoxin, and it's especially dangerous for children and fetuses. (Although the amount of mercury in fluorescent bulbs is small, it is not known if there are health effects from low-level exposures, according to Maine's Department of Environmental Protection.)





Some states, cities and counties have outlawed putting CFL bulbs in the trash, but in most states the practice is legal. Has ayone bothered to ask exactly how we're supposed to dispose of our CFL Bulbs? Here's a clue... http://www.epa.gov/epawaste/hazard/wastetypes/universal/lamps/faqs.htm#40





And what if you break a CFL bulb, how is clean-up different than breaking a traditional light bulb? What to Do if a Fluorescent Light Bulb Breaks





Are you ready for this?



EPA recommends the following clean-up and disposal guidelines:



Open a window and leave the room (restrict access) for at least 15 minutes.
Remove all materials you can without using a vacuum cleaner.
Wear disposable rubber gloves, if available (do not use your bare hands).
Carefully scoop up the fragments and powder with stiff paper or cardboard.
Wipe the area clean with a damp paper towel or disposable wet wipe.
Sticky tape (such as duct tape) can be used to pick up small pieces and powder.
Place all cleanup materials in a plastic bag and seal it.
If your state permits you to put used or broken fluorescent light bulbs in the garbage, seal the bulb in two plastic bags and put into the outside trash (if no other disposal or recycling options are available).
Wash your hands after disposing of the bag.
The first time you vacuum the area where the bulb was broken, (PLEASE DO NOT DO THIS!!!!! THIS IS WRONG AND VERY DANGEROUS!!! Read the next paragraph.) remove the vacuum bag once done cleaning the area (or empty and wipe the canister) and put the bag and/or vacuum debris, as well as the cleaning materials, in two sealed plastic bags in the outdoor trash or protected outdoor location for normal disposal.





When a fluorescent light bulb breaks indoors, mercury vapor can be released into a home or building. Mercury levels in the air can increase when the spill area is agitated through cleaning attempts. Contaminated shoes and clothing can spread mercury to other areas. A study by the Maine Department of Environmental Protection found that mercury from broken bulbs may still be present on floors even after they appear to be clean. Mercury spills indoors are most serious in warm, poorly-ventilated spaces. The EPA offers specific guidelines for cleaning broken fluorescent light bulbs. Brooms should not be used to clean mercury spills. Use sticky tape and wet wipes instead. Vacuuming can cause much more mercury to become airborne, and vacuums can be contaminated in the process. If you must vacuum a carpeted area, open a window, turn off the air conditioning, and then dispose of the vacuum bag. Discard all broken pieces and cleaning materials in a sealed glass jar or two sealed plastic bags. The decision on whether or not to remove carpet where there was a broken lamp may depend on a number of factors including the location of the carpet (e.g. where a child plays or where the carpet is frequently agitated), the occupants of the household, or possibly the type of lamp broken. (From The Maine DEP Compact Fluorescent Lamp Breakage Study Report)





OK, so what the EPA is saying is: Throw your Mercury into the landfill, so it can seep into the ground?





The main arguement that is used over and over again by the EPA and Environmentalist is the goal of using these Mercury Lightbulbs is to reduce (cap) mercury emissions from coal fired power plants. Does this make sense to you? So we're going to reduce mercury emissions and then chuck our broken Mercury Lightbulbs into a landfill? http://www.epa.gov/oar/mercuryrule/basic.htm






Here is some alarming information regarding Mercury from ehow...



Mercury Danger in New Light Bulbs eHow.com http://www.ehow.com/facts_5914125_mercury-danger-new-light-bulbs.html#ixzz1An0RhbjP





Content



The level of mercury contained in each different type of mercury-containing light bulbs can vary dramatically. Standard fluorescent light bulbs of varying wattages all contain around 5 mg of mercury. High-pressure 250-watt sodium light bulbs can contain around 15 mg of mercury. Metal halide 250-watt light bulbs contain more mercury than any other type of light bulb, around 38 mg.



Limited Exposure



Even limited exposure to mercury can have detrimental effects on a person's health. The EPA (Environmental Protection Agency) claims that exposure to small amounts of mercury can result in certain symptoms like tremors, mood swings, nervousness, insomnia and muscle atrophy.



Overexposure



The EPA recognizes and warns that overexposure to mercury can be fatal. Overexposure to the type of mercury found in many newer types of light bulbs can result in kidney failure, respiratory failure and, in extreme cases, death.



Factors



There are several factors associated with how severe of a reaction a person may experience after being exposed to mercury. Factors include the form of mercury a person is exposed to (in this case, elemental mercury), age (fetuses are the most susceptible), duration of exposure, route of exposure (ingestion, inhalation, dermal contact) and the general health of the person exposed.

Environmental Dangers



While the use of fluorescent light bulbs ultimately can reduce the amount of mercury released by power plants, they can cause environmental contamination when they are thrown in the trash instead of recycled. According to the National Electrical Manufacturers Association, mercury may be released when fluorescent bulbs are broken in a garbage truck or at a landfill, or when they are burned in incinerators. Mercury released into the air can end up in water, where it enters the human food supply through fish.





Read more: Danger of Fluorescent Light Bulbs Breaking eHow.com http://www.ehow.com/about_5413024_danger-fluorescent-light-bulbs-breaking.html#ixzz1An2FKTjh





It is very important to read this study....Then ask yourself WHY THE HELL are we putting these bulbs in our homes? http://www.maine.gov/dep/rwm/homeowner/cflreport.htm