essaysfromtheedge

Compact Fluorescent Warning

Back on March 22, 2007 I posted an essay about those "safe" compact fluorescent bulbs that everyone - including the US Federal Government - is shoving down our throats as a way of offsetting man's "disastrous impact on the environment." In that essay I showed that these new bulbs really aren't any more energy efficient, nor are they safer, than incandescent bulbs. Quite the opposite is true.

Now, confirmation from the British Government in the form of a warning regarding the breakage of compact fluorescent bulbs:



This is not an internet hoax. It's from an article entitled An energy saving bulb has gone - evacuate the room now!, in the 6th January 2008 issue of the UK's Daily Mail.

The Department for Environment warned shards of glass from broken bulbs should not be vacuumed up but instead swept away by someone wearing rubber gloves to protect them from the bulb's mercury content.

In addition, it said care should be taken not to inhale any dust and the broken pieces should be put in a sealed plastic bag for disposal at a council dump – not a normal household bin.

Who's at risk? Everyone, it seems.

Energy-saving light bulbs are so dangerous that everyone must leave the room for at least 15 minutes if one falls to the floor and breaks, a Government department warned yesterday.

The startling alert came as health experts also warned that toxic mercury inside the bulbs can aggravate a range of problems including migraines and dizziness.

And a leading dermatologist said tens of thousands of people with skin complaints will find it hard to tolerate being near the bulbs as they cause conditions such as eczema to flare up.

And if the government warning wasn't frightening enough, the fact that, "None of this advice, however, is printed on the packaging the new-style bulbs are sold in," should be even greater cause for alarm!

Compact Fluorescents. Use at your own risk.

Or, if the US government has it's way, use despite your own risk.



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posted by Tomás @ 1/07/2008 12:22:00 PM