CFL bulbs

[Localonthe8s]

I was not aware that a lightbulb could make a person catch fire.

It's quite possible since these bulbs glow very powerful energy

[Gil]

I was not aware that a lightbulb could make a person catch fire.

It's quite possible since these bulbs glow very powerful energy

Do you realize how incredibly stupid that sounds?

[Localonthe8s]

I was not aware that a lightbulb could make a person catch fire.

It's quite possible since these bulbs glow very powerful energy

Do you realize how incredibly stupid that sounds?

You tell me

[Mike M]

EXACTLY! Seriously guys, what kind of person is REALLY going to go through all the trouble to recycle them? This is America we're talking about here. Maybe 5% of them will get recycled, at a maximum. You're missing the point about the Mercury. Even if you clean it up immediately and properly, its still SERIOUSLY risking your health. It's one of the most poisonus elements. I asume its just as harmful to pets. Hate to break a lightbulb and wake up the next morning to have your pet dead. Think about it, its real and it can certainly happen. And yet, they want to put MORE of these hazardous bulbs in our homes. Maybe its there way of controling the population, who knows. I for one am never going to own a single CFL. And if that means getting them illegaly, then so be it. I'm not risking my health for something that wont do me any good in the long run.

Great post, Gil. I'd sue Congress if I were to find my cat sitting on the floor dead because a light bulb broke. I thought the US is a FREE country, not a country where we are forced to do things. What's with this country?

[Stephen]

Good point about recycling, Gil, but I don't totally agree with you. If you break a fluorescent lamp, then clean it up, you obviously shouldn't put your pet somewhere near that area for a while. Who in the right mind would let their pets near a mercury spill? And besides, after a few hours of letting the room ventilate after  you cleaned up the broken lamp, the mercury threat should be gone. And as long as you're careful with CFLs, the chances of you breaking a CFL aren't likely. And yes, CFLs WILL do you good. They reduce CO2 released in coal power plants (so even though a CFL contains mercury, it reduces pollution in the long run), most CFLs produce the same amount of light that incandescents do, and they last MUCH longer. The way I see it, the benefits of CFLs outweigh the potential hazards that COULD happen (which can be prevented if you handle them with care).

[Mike M]

Like I said before, it would be better if they could make them out of a different material that can produce light and is less hazardous. That way you won't have to deal with having your house to be ventilated for several hours.

[Stephen]

Like I said before, it would be better if they could make them out of a different material that can produce light and is less hazardous.

CFLs don't really contain a lot of mercury in them, they contain about the amount that could fit on the tip of a pen. So, the "hazards" of CFLs aren't that hazardous as you guys make it out to be.

I was not aware that a lightbulb could make a person catch fire.

I was exaggerating, Gil. Don't act stupid.

[lfmusiclover]

Like I said before, it would be better if they could make them out of a different material that can produce light and is less hazardous.

CFLs don't really contain a lot of mercury in them, they contain about the amount that could fit on the tip of a pen. So, the "hazards" of CFLs aren't that hazardous as you guys make it out to be.

I was not aware that a lightbulb could make a person catch fire.

I was exaggerating, Gil. Don't act stupid.

That little amount is deadly. It doesn't take any more than that.

[Gil]

Like I said before, it would be better if they could make them out of a different material that can produce light and is less hazardous.

CFLs don't really contain a lot of mercury in them, they contain about the amount that could fit on the tip of a pen. So, the "hazards" of CFLs aren't that hazardous as you guys make it out to be.

I was not aware that a lightbulb could make a person catch fire.

I was exaggerating, Gil. Don't act stupid.

That little amount is deadly. It doesn't take any more than that.

Exactly. There is no "safe" amount of mercury. Any is dangerous. And regardless of when you clean it up, its still there, harming you and your family. I would not risk it just to save on energy bills.

[Concentric Eyewall]

Congratulations, we now have another black market

What is with this all-or-nothing crap that Congress seems entitled to?

[Mike M]

What about LED bulbs? Do they produce any harm like CFL's do?

[Localonthe8s]

What about LED bulbs? Do they produce any harm like CFL's do?

Nope. They use them in road signs, scoreboards, school bus lights so I"m guessing if it's widely used then its not a huge threat.

EDIT: and to add to that they dont contain harmful mercury vapors like CFLs do