“Green” Light Bulbs Have Mercury: Who Knew?
The United States Congress has passed a bill that provides for the phasing out of all incandescent light bulbs by 2014 (100-watt bulbs can not be used after 2012).
The primary alternative for consumers today is the Compact Fluorescent Light bulb (CFL). These bulbs are said to be 75 percent more energy efficient and are promoted as lasting longer than incandescent bulbs. These two factors are used to justify the higher price tag (CFLs are approximately $3 per bulb vs. 50 cents for an incandescent).
Most consumers won’t grumble too much about paying more for a longer lasting, more energy efficient bulb that saves money in the long run — environmental experts say one CFL can save $30-$100 on reduced energy costs over its lifetime. However, this move toward greater energy efficiency is more complex than consumers might realize because all fluorescent bulbs — both the 4-foot office style bulbs as well as the new spiral-shaped bulbs for household use — contain mercury, a known neurotoxin. Mercury is the ingredient that makes the inner phosphor coating of any fluorescent bulb produce light.
