How can we save the environment, save energy and affect climate change in our own small way and at the same time? Simply change your light bulbs with CFL (Compact Fluorescent Light) bulbs.CFL bulbs consume less power than the traditional incandescent light bulb, which has been around for more than a hundred years. CFL will outlast incandescent ones and although they cost more, the cost is considered negligible as compared to the amount of savings with your electricity bill. I am a proponent of the use of CFL but lately I found out its bad effects if not handled properly. Experts have been debating on the hazards of using CFL because of one of its component, mercury.
Mercury, Hg on the periodic table, is toxic and can be inhaled or absorbed by the skin.
From Wikipedia;
“A study has shown that acute exposure (4-8 hours) to calculated elemental mercury levels of 1.1 to 44 mg/m3 resulted in chest pain, dyspnea, cough, hemoptysis, impairment of pulmonary function, and evidence of interstitial pneumonitis.
Acute exposure to mercury vapor has been shown to result in profound central nervous system effects, including psychotic reactions characterized by delirium, hallucinations, and suicidal tendency. Occupational exposure has resulted in broad-ranging functional disturbance, including erethism, irritability, excitability, excessive shyness, and insomnia. With continuing exposure, a fine tremor develops and may escalate to violent muscular spasms. Tremor initially involves the hands and later spreads to the eyelids, lips, and tongue. Long-term, low-level exposure has been associated with more subtle symptoms of erethism, including fatigue, irritability, loss of memory, vivid dreams, and depression.”
According to the US Environmental Protection Agency, mercury in the air “can come from both natural and man-made sources. Coal-fired power plants are the largest man made source because mercury that naturally exists in coal is released into the air when coal is burned to make electricity.”
Based from the facts mentioned, we can greatly reduce energy consumption and mercury (that affects our health) generated by coal plants if we use CFL bulbs. But we can’t always have the best of both worlds and there is always a trade off. Since CFL bulbs have small quantities (some consider it negligible) of mercury, the problem arises after it has served its useful life. Unlike ordinary trash, they must be properly disposed and that is the problem. Waste management in the Philippines although there is already a law is still in the medieval times. Even if responsible citizens do their job with segregation, the garbage collector simply reverses what you have done after you give them your trash. So even if CFL’s have miniscule amounts of mercury once they reach the dumpsite, they form a sea (or just a river… a lake perhaps?) of mercury! The best way for now is to keep your busted CFL’s and wait till some agency/manufacturer decided to buy or take them back for recycling.
But there is hope with regards to lighting applications, LED (Light Emitting Diode) which is more energy efficient and maybe more environment friendly is in the pipeline… but for now… we have to contend with the lesser evil.
Click here for EPA fact sheet
