Posted on 01/04/2013 12:56:45 PM PST by SeekAndFind
Legislate in haste ... repent at leisure. In their haste to rid Americans of the unconscionable plague of perfectly safe if somewhat inefficient incandescent lighting, politicians in Washington have forced us to adopt more expensive technology in its place. Compact flourescent lighting (CFLs) are already known to be a considerable disposal risk, thanks to the mercury used in them. A new study reported earlier this week by Miami's CBS affiliate warns of an operational risk as well ... ultraviolet radiation that can cause skin cancers and even acute burns (via Katie Pavlich):
Every time you turn on the lights, you may be putting yourself at risk, according to a disturbing new study.
CLICK ABOVE LINK FOR THE VIDEO
Energy efficient bulbs are eco-friendly and can save you big bucks, but experts say that some could also have a dark side.
Actually, they’re not all that eco-friendly, as even the government acknowledges. The EPA wants to argue that the release of mercury from CFLs in disposal is less than that released from the burning of the amount of coal one saves by using them. That may well be true overall, but not if one breaks in your house. At that point, you need to conduct an hours-long cleanup — and even if you want to dispose of an unbroken CFL, it takes special disposal in most jurisdictions due to the eco-unfriendly nature of CFLs.
And now, it takes special instructions to use them, too:
Money saving, compact fluorescent light bulbs emit high levels of ultra violet radiation, according to a new study. Research at Long Island’s Stony Brook found that the bulbs emit rays so strong that they can actually burn skin and skin cells.
“The results were that you could actually initiate cell death,” said Marcia Simon, a Professor of Dermatology.
Exposure to the bulbs could lead to premature aging and skin cancer, according to doctors.
“It can also cause skin cancer in the deadliest for, and that’s melanoma,” said Dr. Rebecca Tung.
Well, these are just the defective CFLs, right? The outsides are coated to block UV radiation. And that’s true, but …
In every bulb that researchers tested they found that the protective coating around the light creating ‘phosphor’ was cracked, allowing dangerous ultraviolet rays to escape.
So what can you do? Stay away from them:
Stony Brook researches advised that customers exercise caution and stay two feet away from the bulbs at all times, while storing them in an overhead fixture or lamp.
Gee … maybe Congress should have thought to check this out before regulating incandescents out of existence.
Aren’t they also a potential bio-hazard due to their mercury content?
Once again... the feds helping us goes very wrong.
does this mean no more subsidized homo depot lightbulbs?
Isn't this always the case?
We stocked up on incandescents and probably have enough 40w, 60w, 75w, and 100w bulbs to keep our great-grandchildren in warm, safe light.
Heck, back in the 50s, we used to break thermometers and play with the mercury in a small dish. We’d coat pennies, nickels and dimes with it, and I think all 3 of us are still alive, last I checked. LOL.
Don’t won one! Don’t want one! Went to S-Lowe’s in 2011, but up a bunch of all the bulbs necessary, after doing the mental figuring, to last me till they carry me out of this apartment! I started this year, since last year was a ‘year of doctor crap’, by replacing them all. ALL incandescent, ALL cheaper on MY pocket, and fits MY budget!
Happy New Year!
Just wondering - aren’t those long tube florescent lights the same? Don’t they have mercury in them as well?
Yes it is.
This is a, ‘Good-News/Bad-News’ situation.
The good-news is that I can’t afford to buy these bulbs because of the new taxes.
The bad-news is the new taxes.
“Federally-permitted lightbulbs a cancer risk”
DUH....
Anyone paying attention when this moronic law was passed already knew this, but was called an “anti-environment, anti-science whacko!” at the time, as you recall.
Funny how these things ALWAYS come full-circle to bite us on the a$$, isn’t it? Mustn’t let little things like FACTS get in the way of the Democrat/GE agenda, can we?
bflr
Got mercury poisoning *twice* from picking up broken ones.
When *one* breaks, it releases 400x the ‘safe amount’ of mercury into the area.
Both times, I’d cleaned up 3 or 4 of them within a month of each other.
I only use them in low traffic areas now in closed light fixtures where they can’t fall onto the floor when they invariably ‘explode’ for no reason.
Good to know Consumer Reports gave them such a good write up.
From "Amazing Grace":
William Wilberforce: No matter how loud you shout, you will not drown out the voice of the people!
Lord Tarleton: (insulted) People?
This is one of the reasons I bought 4 dozen 100w incandescents before the ban.
The other reasons:
We thought we’d save money “as advertised”.
When your light bill is almost $700 a month, you look for ways to cut back.
This was not a good way, obviously.
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