“ Energy-Saving Light Bulbs ”

[Daniel Wood]

I've replaced just about every one of my light bulbs with one of these and now I'm concerned of what risk I might have taken.

“ Your Congress at Work ” (http://youtube.com/watch?v=e-LOtKIIKcg)

Here's three more videos.

“ Lightbulb 1 ” (http://youtube.com/watch?v=IUl1iVE3qXU&feature=related)

“ Lightbulb 2 ” (http://youtube.com/watch?v=8yr5ItoF3Ek&feature=related )

“ Lightbulb 3 ” (http://youtube.com/watch?v=o2S7tV7mTaA&feature=related)

Now here's what I found out in “ Snopes.com ” (http://www.snopes.com/medical/toxins/cfl.asp)

Has anyone else heard of this or is it just plain overkill?

[carsandcycles]

The mercury part is total overkill (I'm responding to the part about cleanup if broken). Like they suggested, I wouldn't vacuum up the pieces but a general brush and dustpan will clean up the mess fine. Mercury, like lead, is a cummulative poison, and unless you have multiple and high dose exposures, you're not likely to have any problems. Children, in their very early formulative years may be somewhat more at risk but as with a lot of things these days, the over reaction is not necessary. JMO

[Porcupine]

I agree with Chuck, there are some of these people that just don't have a clue and result with overkill. How about ALL those flouresecent tubes we've had for years/decades. Those would contain MORE (per unit) of Mercury thatn these little squigly bulbs.
Just proves once again that anything new that comes out there tend to be the anti-(whatever) that comes with it as part of the package.

I think if they concentrated on lowering the gas prices then our stress hormones might not react as much as they do. I'm surprised those bulbs don't contain lead since they're made in China

[dougbfresh]

Nobody ever talks about the REAL problem-too many HUMANS. There's always a tradeoff with anything like this. It's like electric cars-all you do is move where the fossil fuels get burned from your car to the power generation stations. What do you think will happen to Electric rates when we're all driving plugin cars??? Same think that's happening to corn prices now.

[Porcupine]

It's all a false front. Like Doug just said, you can pay me now or pay me later.
Pollution at the soruce from your exhaust or no pollution coming from the electric car. But that electricity comes from somewhere, the power plants. the more we charge up our new and improved pollution free electric car, the more the power plants will be over whelmed and chucking out more pollutants.
Doug, you forgot one thing. Too much corn can give you gas

Bicycles and walking

[dougbfresh]

Too much corn can give you gas



Or Tennessee Whiskey

[vetteonr]

How about ALL those flouresecent tubes we've had for years/decades. Those would contain MORE (per unit) of Mercury thatn these little squigly bulbs.

My thinking exactly. I changed out all the bulbs in my house and my electric bill dropped 30%. Even I was surprised.

[Daniel Wood]

I noticed a change in my light bill as well. I still have two incandescent bulbs in my home (places that I can't put CFL's) and about every six months, one blows and not one of the CFL's has blown yet (knock on wood).

I have read stories on other forums where people have used them for six years without replacing one. Sounds a little far-fetched to me but that's what their saying.

I hope mine last that long.

[justen]

I don't know how many times I broke a long fluorescent bulb in the garage. Either with a broom handle or a cherry picker. As long as you are careful with clean up. I wouldn't worry about it to much. In the house I use these bulbs. But I am a little more careful with them. I put them in places I know won't get broken. If it's on the ceiling I have a cover over it. So it just takes some common sense. One day I went to menards. There on the shelf was a broken fluorescent bulb that no one cleaned up. I think the mercury is pretty low, you would need to break a few bulbs before it was a serious risk.

If you knew all the chemicals farmers use on crop or apples, You probably wouldn't want to eat it. But the dosage is low enough that it doesn't affect you much unless you ate alot. Thats why I try to clean everything first. But even washing a apple in the sink, the skin may get clean but how much is that stuff soaked into the apple.

[jayharold]

I used to play with the stuff when I was a kid. 54 now and still OK I think.

[Porcupine]

I used to play with the stuff when I was a kid. 54 now and still OK I think.
All of a sudden I have this twich that I've never had before.

I wonder if the 30 PPM bulb caused it or the newer 22PPM bulb caused it. I think there's a researcher somewhere with too much time on his hands. Just watch they'll downgrade the threat a little later an claim that it's only 86PPM that will affect us.

How about gasoline prices causing stress and heart attacks? Does that count?

[Daniel Wood]

All of a sudden I have this twich that I've never had before.

I wonder if the 30 PPM bulb caused it or the newer 22PPM bulb?
Naaaa, you're just old! :D

[vetteonr]

All of a sudden I have this twich that I've never had before.

That's just from driving a Ford. After all, they do have a "Mercury" division don't they? :D

[danny]

That's just from driving a Ford. After all, they do have a "Mercury" division don't they? :D

ford used to call their canadian pickups mercury too right?

[Daniel Wood]

That's just from driving a Ford. After all, they do have a "Mercury" division don't they? :D
Now this should get his gizzard! :D