A CFL typically contains 4 mg of mercury versus 3000 for old-style thermostats and 500 for a mercury thermometer.
As I suspected, the author is attempting to scare people.
It isn’t any one CFL that’s a problem. It’s what’s going to happen in 5 or so years when the landfills are full of these things. Most communities don’t classify them as hazardous waste, so they go in with the trash.
What are we going to do about all of the toxic waste sites then? Or are you claiming that mercury isn’t a problem?
From the article:
"The DEP sent a specialist to Bridges' house to test for mercury contamination. The specialist found mercury levels in the bedroom in excess of six times the state's "safe" level for mercury contamination of 300 billionths of a gram per cubic meter. The DEP specialist recommended that Bridges call an environmental cleanup firm, which reportedly gave her a "low-ball" estimate of US$2,000 to clean up the room. The room then was sealed off with plastic and Bridges began "gathering finances" to pay for the US$2,000 cleaning. Reportedly, her insurance company wouldn't cover the cleanup costs because mercury is a pollutant."
It sounds more like the states DEP Specialist, together with the Eviromental firm is trying to scare people.