Nathan, Fiona, and Kaisa Family Blog

My father-in-law sent Fiona a link to keep me honest and share some insight on CFLs that I didn’t know. First, I have to thank him for reading our blog, and say that he’s much more on top of things than I’ll give him credit for sometimes. This is one of those times and I thought I needed to do some more homework to see if I should be more alarmed.

I had no idea CFLs contained traces of mercury. The stuff in thermometers? Well, it used to be, now digital and alcohol (because it expands like liquid mercury) are more common. Mercury is toxic to human and wildlife, especially with prolonged exposure and especially for children and pregnant women/unborn children. Mercury (Periodic Element Hg, 80) has been used to find gold, display temperature and fill fillings. Yep! Mercury is the main ingredient dental amalgams. I knew fillings had mercury, I but I hadn’t realized the danger of periodic element 80, and I have a lot of cavities. Because the amount of mercury vapor is so small it “has not been shown to cause any … adverse health effects”.

But this post isn’t about the dangers of mercury, it’s about using CFL bulbs as a viable, and safe, alternative to incandescents, especially knowing how much mercury is in these bulbs. It’s important to note that coal-power plants produce a large amount of mercury (but not nearly as much as nature’s volcano eruptions!), alongside other less-desirable byproducts, and incandescent bulbs use more of this “dirty electricity” and produce an overall less-desirable environmental outcome (Note the chart on the below). According to the Energy Information Administration, part of the Department of Energy, nearly 50% of US electricity comes from coal. By comparison, 80% of France’s power is nuclear, but that a whole new discussion.

The other option is to recycle CFLs when they burn out. While recycling centers for these bulbs is not easy to find (check your local recycling centers), bulbs can be dropped off at my new favorite store, IKEA. Now, not everyone has an IKEA nearby, but if you are lucky enough to, drop off some dead CFL bulbs before you peruse the store. You can also drop off your bulbs at our house, I’m sure we’re going sometime soon.

While pregnant women may have to go without their shark and swordfish, it’s just a necessary precaution. As for our family, after weighing the pros and cons I think we’ll continue to use CFL bulbs for our lighting needs. I hope the following links help you make the best decision for you.

The article my father-in-law sent: CFL Bulbs Have One Hitch: Toxic Mercury
Mercury Dangers: Mercury Thermometers and Your Family’s Health
Wikipedia: Elemental Mercury