Junk Science: Looming Lightbulb Liability

Fox News ^ | February 21, 2008 | Steve Milloy

[Larry R. Johnson]

The speeding freight train carrying toxic waste liability for makers, sellers and purchasers of compact fluorescent lightbulbs, or CFLs, was only faintly audible in the distance last spring when this column first warned of it. Now we’re beginning to see that environmentalist-stoked train speed toward its victims, whom President Bush and Congress just finished tying to the tracks.

CFLs and all other fluorescent lightbulbs require special clean-up and disposal procedures because they contain small amounts of mercury, which is neurotoxic at sufficiently high exposures. For example, you’re not supposed to vacuum breakage or toss used bulbs in household trash.

Despite these clean-up and disposal hassles, environmental groups, bulb makers and retailers relentlessly have promoted CFL use as a strategy for reducing electricity consumption and the power plant emissions allegedly causing global warming.

[Larry R. Johnson]

You have to just love this stuff. The Greenies want us to use CFL bulbs to stop "Global Warming". They want us to pay pay pay for these bulbs and pay pay pay for the clean-up of all this toxic mercury. And the President and the congress go for both. Oh, Mr. Goldwater...where are you?

[steelyourfaith]

Despite these clean-up and disposal hassles, environmental groups, bulb makers and retailers relentlessly have promoted CFL use as a strategy for reducing electricity consumption and the power plant emissions allegedly causing global warming."

 

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[Former MSM Viewer]

“........Oh, Mr. Goldwater...where are you.....?”

He died with the America I grew up in.

[Tucker39]

Don’t tell anyone, but I have laid in a supply of conventional light bulbs and flood light bulbs, etc. that I think, hope, will carry me along until the intelligent people realize how assinine those fluorescent bulbs are, and the whole damned foolishness fades away.......along with the whole global warming farce.

[huldah1776]

I’m going to do the same, especially since these bulbs not only produce light but also heat, that keeps my oil bill down by heating up my room. :)

[BMIC]

You think that’s bad? My electric company sent me two of those toxic light bulbs just before Christmas, totally unsolicited, and planned to make me pay more than market prices for them over the course of the next year via a confusing unexplained “surcharge” on my monthly bill. All wth the blessing of the Maryland Public Utilities Commission.

Fortunately enough of us pitched a fit that the State stepped in and forced them to take that surcharge off of our bills. Now if only they would send a hazmat team out to take the darned toxic light bilbs off of my hands, then maybe I would be happy!

[catbertz]

this is a replay of the paper bag nonsense. They screamed for years about killing trees, forced the change to plastic, then someone realized that those bags will still be around in three trillion years lol

[rlmorel]

I HATE these effing things.

It SUCKS to try to read by their light. This is stupider than the Ethanol boondoggle.

[NonValueAdded]

Just had to replace the lamp in the freezer. Was wondering if I installed a CFC in there yesterday and left the door open, would it have illuminated yet?

[Walmartian]

[stboz]

“........Oh, Mr. Goldwater...where are you.....?” He died with the America I grew up in.

They said in 1964 "If you vote for Goldwater, we'll wind up in a war."

So, I voted for Goldwater......

I do miss that America.

[Katya]

I’m sooo annoyed at the moment...I went into my warehouse retailer and they had NO regular sixty watt bulbs. I have a weird low volt system from the late 1950’s...it likes to stick and then short out bulbs. No way I can afford to keep buying expensive light bulbs, until I can afford a major overhaul of my system.

[USFRIENDINVICTORIA]

Here's what I said on this last May:

"There’s about 5 milligrams of mercury in a CFL bulb (given its density, maybe you could fit it on the head of a pin). Environmentalists are minimizing the importance of this mercury now — because they’re promoting CFL bulbs, and regulations to ban incandescent bulbs. Expect things to change, once everyone is using CFL bulbs & has no choice to revert to incandescents.

Environmentalists will point to the billions of bulbs discarded each year, and demand regulations to prevent the tens of thousands of kilograms of mercury from being discarded willy nilly. We’ll wind up paying to dispose of CFL bulbs at hazardous waste facilities — where the mercury will be meticulously reclaimed. Heavy fines will be imposed on anyone who just tosses a dead bulb in the garbage."

Here: http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1835838/posts

[hoosierham]

Go to the dollar discount type places;plenty old,reliable,simple,safe,cheap bulbs there....but for how long?

[The Iceman Cometh]

Our garbage company takes the CFL bulbs at no charge. Oh, yeah, they also take the plastic bags as well in the recycling bins.

[Ditto]

Phase two is to double or triple you electric bill with the carbon tax and that will make clean-up of mercury seem a bargain by comparison, not counting all the 'new jobs' created for mercury regulators and private mercury remediation specialists. In the mean time, the trial lawyers make another bundle.

See asbestos.

And you thought those Washington lobbyists were just pretty faces going to cocktail parties. ;~))

Global Warming is the Swiss Army Knife of big government. It can accomplish most any task.

[theBuckwheat]

Given the documented dangers from government sources, it is only a matter of time (especially in the more leftist jurisdictions) when some parent will be charged with “endangering the welfare of a child” for not calling out the local HazMat Emergency Team when they break one of the bulbs on the kitchen floor.

[I still care]

Just put in two lamps where one used to be.

It’s like how you have to flush the toilet twice with the low water volume ones.

And everytime anyone complains about jobs being sourced overseas, just tell them that, “Yes, they closed down our light bulb plants here because all the new ones are only made in China.” And when they look a little shocked, say, “Well, they are so toxic to the environment no one wants to make them over here.” Bada bing.

[ME-262]

In Kansas a plastic bag left outdoors degrades in just a few years. But reality proves nothing....WE’RE DOOMED!

[Oztrich Boy]

For example, you’re not supposed to vacuum breakage or toss used bulbs in household trash.

Lot of things you are not supposed to do