One of the great inventions in lighting technology is the compact fluorescent light bulb. Often referred to as CFL bulbs, compact fluorescents offer significant savings in energy over standard, incandescent lamps. Developments in CFL bulb technology have also enabled the bulbs to last many times longer than their traditional counterparts.

If you have used CFL bulbs, you may well be aware of their many benefits, but what you may not be aware of is that CFL bulbs do contain trace amounts of mercury, an element that can be harmful to the environment if not disposed of properly.

What are the health risks of mercury?
Almost all energy efficient lighting contains some amounts of mercury in their tubing systems. But the amount is typically small, usually about four mg or less. But even trace amount of mercury can be harmful if not cared for properly.

Mercury has recently become a topic of concern among healthcare professionals, with hospitals and other institutions taking great care to reduce the amount of mercury present in the workplace. Exposure to mercury can potentially lead to a number of health problems, including damage to the nervous system, kidneys, and liver, as well as motor skill and memory impairment.

Pregnant women and women who plan to have children are particularly at risk as mercury can cause birth defects and health issues in young children. The Center for Disease Control (CDC) estimates that 8% of women of childbearing years have unsafe levels of mercury in their bloodstream.

In lighting instruments that use mercury, the vapor is released when the product is broken or incinerated. The amount released from broken CFL bulbs is typically much less than is found in other mercury sources.

CFLs vs. incandecent light bulbs
Despite the fact that compact fluorescent light bulbs contain trace amounts of mercury, they are in fact an excellent way to reduce mercury pollution in the environment. CFL bulbs use, on average, 75% less energy than incandescent bulbs and last more than five times longer. The result is less electricity used over the life of the bulb for the same amount of light produced. Additionally, because the bulbs have such long lifespans, there is less waste entered into the waste stream.

Using less electricity means less power needs to be produced by coal plants, which comprise more than 60% of the total power generation in North Carolina. Coal plants produce mercury as a by-product of their generation, which results in increased levels of the pollutant in our air and water systems. By using more energy efficient lighting, you can actually reduce mercury pollution by reducing the energy being generated.

According to estimates by the Environmental Protection Agency, a coal plant will emit approximately 10 mg of mercury to produce electricity for an incandescent bulb over a five year period. The energy required for a CFL bulb will emit only 2.4 mg of mercury over the same period. Accounting for the four mg of mercury found in the bulb itself, the CFL bulb is still responsible for less mercury entering the environment than the traditional incandescent bulb. So not only will CFLs save energy, but they will reduce mercury as well.

Disposing of CFL bulbs
Mercury is found in many household products, and there are many recycling and disposal programs that currently exist to support those products. Because CFL bulbs are relatively new on the energy market, many recycling programs do not currently offer support for fluorescent products. But it is still important to take precautions when disposing of CFL bulbs.

While typically only large commercial users of tubular fluorescent light bulbs are required to recycle their products, homeowners should still take steps to properly dispose of CFL bulbs once they are spent. Contact your local recycling or waste reduction division to inquire whether or not they offer CFL bulb recycling in your area. If they do not, place the burned out bulb (being careful not to break it) into a sealed plastic bag and dispose of the contents in the same way you would discard paint, oil or other items at your local hazardous waste collection site. If the bulbs are not accepted there, seal the bulb in a plastic bag and dispose of it with your everyday trash.

If a CFL breaks in your home, be sure to disperse the harmful vapors by opening a window prior to cleaning up the pieces. Sweep up the fragments, taking care not to touch them with your hands and place the pieces in a sealed plastic bag for disposal. Be sure to wipe the area where the breakage occured with a paper towel to make sure all fragments are removed.

CFL bulbs and NC GreenPower
Compact fluorescent light bulbs offer a bright future for consumers around the world. Their low energy usage and long lifespan make them excellent for energy conservation and for reducing pollutants emitted from fossil fuel electric generation. And while consumers need to be aware of the appropriate operation and disposal of these and other items that contain mercury in their design, CFL bulbs are still the lamp of choice for those wishing to help the environment and conserve energy both today and for the years ahead.

For more information on mercury, compact fluorescent light bulbs and how to properly dispose of them, the following resources are suggested:

www.earth911.org - Waste disposal and recycling info by zip code
www.p2pays.org - N.C. Division of Pollution Prevention and Environmental Assistance
www.lamprecycle.org - Lamp recycling for commercial and residential users
"NC Regulations About Lamps Containing Mercury" - PDF (courtesy DPPEA)
"CFL Retrofits in Commercial Lighting" - PDF (courtesy State Energy Office and DPPEA)

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