Posted on 03/10/2011 1:55:01 PM PST by jazusamo
(CNSNews.com) – A lighting expert who has overseen lighting projects including the Statue of Liberty and the Petronas Towers, expressed concerns on Capitol Hill Thursday about the safety of certain types of new light bulbs.
Speaking before the Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee, Howard M. Branston spoke out in favor of the "Better Use of Light Bulbs Act" – a measure which would overturn elements of a 2007 law mandating that traditional incandescent light bulbs be phased out over the next few years.
In his testimony, Branston claimed that parts of the 2007 Energy Independence and Security Act served as a “de-facto ban on traditional incandescent light bulbs” and that compact florescent light bulb, or CFLs -- the most popular alternative to incandescent bulbs (ordinary light bulbs) -- pose a risk to public health and safety.
(Click here to see a 2009 CNSNews.com commentary which addressed those issues.)
“The compact fluorescent lamp contains mercury,” said Branston. “One gram of mercury will pollute a two acre pond. This 2007 light bulb standard brings a deadly poison into every residence in our nation.
“We do not have enough knowledge of the potential consequences of being continuously exposed to the electro magnetic field that compact florescent lamps emit. There are millions of people in this country with Lupus, an auto immune disease. Exposure to low doses of light from these lamps causes a sever rash.”
Sen. James Risch (R-Idaho) expressed similar concerns, during his questioning of the panel.
“Has anybody looked at the EPA recommendations put out in January 25, 2011 about what you do if one of these mercury light bulbs break in your home?” Risch asked.
“In Idaho, we’ve had a number of instances where they’ve had a mercury spill in a science laboratory or something in the laboratory in the school, and they immediately closed the school down for, I don’t know, a number of days while they cleaned it up,” he pointed out.
“Can you imagine mercury bulbs throughout a school? I mean, any time a kid wants a day off he’s going to break a mercury light bulb and that’s going to shut that school down and if they don’t they’re going to have trouble with the EPA according to what has to happen to clean it up,” Risch added.
Branston, part of a six-person panel testifying on the legislation, also issued warnings about the safety of LED (light-emitting diode) lamps, another alternative to incandescent light bulbs, saying that not enough research has been done to guarantee the safety of consumers who are exposed to the bulbs.
“When we look at the future of LEDs we have not yet discovered all of the ramifications of that,” said Branston. “The French have found that the output of these lamps is harming the vision of young children. Why aren’t we doing epidemiology studies on that? They contain arsenic and other poisonous materials. Why aren’t we looking at that?
“Why don’t we know that when you throw one of those CFL’s in the trash the mercury changes to methyl mercury which is a deadly poison, which if it gets into our water supply will be a danger?”
However, panel member Steve Nadel, executive director of the American Council for an Energy-Efficient Economy, dismissed Branston’s concerns claiming that the mercury needed to power old-fashioned incandescent bulbs poses more of a health and environmental risk than that contained within the CFLs.
“The biggest source of mercury in our environment, human caused mercury is from power production,” Nadel said. “If you use the conventional incandescent lamp I believe the EPA found that you would emit 5.5 grams of mercury into the atmosphere that then goes into the water. It can go into the fish and be ingested.
“With the CFL -- and this is EPA data -- there’s only 1.6 milligrams of mercury that goes into the environment. Most of that has to do with -- even a CFL results in some power production, I think 0.4 grams of mercury EPA found typically goes into the environment from the bulb itself. So, it’s not that one has mercury and one doesn’t. They both have mercury and frankly the incandescent has more.”
Besides safety and health concerns Branston, who was the only proponent of the "Better Use of Light Bulbs Act" on the panel, also cited concerns that eliminating incandescent bulbs would cost the nation jobs, put a cost burden on businesses -- many of which will have to update lighting fixtures that are incompatible with the newer bulb -- pose a fire hazard, lower the quality of the light emitted and be an unnecessary government intrusion on the free-market.
Supporters of CFL’s and LEDs say the would significantly lower energy consumption in the United States and are more cost efficient than their incandescent counterparts.
The Energy Independence and Security Act, which was signed into law by President George W. Bush requires roughly 25 percent greater efficiency for light bulbs by 2014. Opponents argue that this will effectively ban the sale of most current incandescent light bulbs.
It's more of an inhalation issue than a drinking water issue.
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LOL! Right on, just hang a minigun under each of them. :-)
You ARE aware that the normal fluorescent tubes we have all been using for a hundred years each contains more mercury than the typical new CFBs?
I totally agree with that.
Choice is the hallmark of a free exchange private enterprise society.
Saving the stupid and ignorant from themselves is a lame excuse for government totalitarianism.
Mercury is great for bone embrittlement. More older people of SS age will break bones and die sooner thereby assuring the survival of the ‘lockbox’ program.
Hell, if enough younger people die of mercury poisoning we may be able to lower our retirement age. We have such a smart and caring government.
See post #23.
That said, I use incandescent lights in some parts of my home, like critical lighting, bathrooms, and places where the light will only be used intermittently.
“In my high school science labs every student learning chemistry and physics handled metallic mercury”
As a kid, it was great fun to play with little balls of mercury, and coat coins with it.
God only knows what would happen if they caught kids doing that today.
Also, in those days, I knew kids that thought lead paint chips were pretty tasty ;)
When I found out these “mandated” bulbs contained mercury, I thought (and still do) think it would be fun to go downtown very early or late and bring the ones that have burned out with me (they burn out a LOT faster than claimed). Then I’d just “accidentally” drop and break them, one at a time, somewhere on the sidewalk.
What a cheap way to get your 15 minutes.
isn’t this how the hatters of the old days became mad.
they used mercury in the hat forming process and the poisoning drove the hatters mad.
Technically correct for some coal plants. Coal has minute quantities of Hg. Clean coal technologies are removing the Hg and apparently mitigates the problem. Nadel can take his twisty bulb & go play with it till it breaks.
We tried some in a dining area fixture with four bulbs in glass flowers that are open on the bottom. The bulbs didn’t last as long as incandescents, must have been heat build up, don’t know what else it could be.
I believe both types bulbs have a place but it really ticks me off they’re in effect trying to outlaw the old ones.
I understand that coal has all kinds of nasty stuff in it, including Hg....if not virtually every element in the periodic chart!
Do you think that a coal plant producing 100 watts for the life of an incandescent bulb produces that much mercury? I suppose it’s possible for some types of coal. I also understand that 5.5 gms of Hg, being pretty heavy, does not occupy much volume.
AGW ping?
This time of year, our cats wrap themselves up in an electric blanket and stay warm far from the computer. No amount of coaxing (except kitty treats) could get them to expose their hairless little bodies (Sphynx). Friends, relatives and neighbors have all told us the curly-qs seem not to be lasting long at all, contrary to what we've been spoon fed by the greenies.
I don’t use fluorescents but, no I didn’t know what. Sounds like we need to get rid of both.
Just follow the money and you’ll find G.E.
You're absolutely correct.
excerpt:
"Rather than setting off a boom in the U.S. manufacture of replacement lights, the leading replacement lights are compact fluorescents, or CFLs, which are made almost entirely overseas, mostly in China."
Light bulb factory closes; End of era for U.S. means more jobs overseas
Ya lost me at “Quadrillions “
Go to Home Depot or Lowes and stop by the light bulb aisle. There is one name you’ll see on about half the light bulbs.
GE paid for the lobbyists which got the CFL law passed.
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