The danger of new 'green' light bulbs (Can the ban be lifted now - for the children?)

Colorado Connection ^ | 11/04/10 | Abbie Burke

[Libloather]

The danger of new 'green' light bulbs
by Abbie Burke
Posted: 11.04.2010 at 2:20 PM

COLORADO SPRINGS, COLO. -- They burn brighter, longer, and use less energy. But the squiggly looking light bulbs known as CFLs (compact fluorescent light bulbs) light up using mercury, a potentially dangerous element.

Switching out old light bulbs to the new CFLs is one of the easiest ways to go green. But what is done with the CFLs after they burn out is perhaps even more important for the environment.

"You don't want that mercury ending up in the landfill, which could then end up getting into the ground and into the ground water," said Melodee Gordon, conservation specialist with Colorado Springs Utilities.

According to the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) exposure to mercury can cause damage to the brain, heart, kidneys and lungs.

When put into a landfill the EPA says mercury can potentially find its way into streams and lakes, where fish and shellfish can change it into methyl mercury, a highly toxic form, which can then be ingested by humans.

So what should be done with mercury containing CFLs?

[ExTexasRedhead]

I believe these garbage “Liberal” light bulbs with their curly design were designed with Liberals in mind. Liberals can plug or screw them where the sun don’t shine. What do you think? Made by Liberals for Liberals!

[EBH]

It’s the vapor, not the beads that cause the problem. If it is immediately and properly cleaned up...most people will have no adverse reaction.

[ThePatrioticArtist]

I agree! (I guess I was typing when you were replying! :) )

[Mrs. Don-o]

I like incandescents. Just enough heat to help my yogurt set.

[oh8eleven]

I do know they use less energy, and they are as bright as the regular bulbs
How do you know? Do you have links to some reliable sources?

[FrankR]

This is ridiculous.

First of all, I don't use the spaghetti bulbs. The light is harsh and not very bright.

I think this is a product of a shrewd lobbyest who convinced congress of the "green" value of these stupid bulbs and got them to ban regular light bulbs.

Sort of like the guy who invented the new 'refrigerant' that wouldn't go anywhere because everyone was using freon, so he lobbied the greenjeans faction of Congress and got freon banned.

It's from the obama school of marketing, if your product is a dud and won't sell, get congress to outlaw your competitor's product. Obama does that with his opponents, he can't win on principle and issues, so he digs dirt and gets his opponent disqualified, like when he ran for senator.

My power company left me two spaghetti bulbs on the porch the other day - hey, they're going "green". I tossed them into the trash and off to the landfill they went...unopened.

It's nanny-state, payoff, legislation with absolutely no more basis in fact than goofygore's global warming.

We've got to start wising up to these frauds being flung onto the American people. It's just dirty politics.

But then, no one has the guts to do that, do they?

[Salamander]

FWIW:

http://www.wnd.com/index.php?fa=PAGE.view&pageId=72133

[ThePatrioticArtist]

My electric bill! I wanted to see if it would go down after we switched to all twisties. But I’m not going to send that to you. If my answer is not good enough for you, then hard cheese!

[reagan_fanatic]

A few questions: why the sudden urgency about the dangers of mercury in CFL’s? For as long as I can remember, flourescent tubes have been used by the billions in shops and businesses across the country. Don’t Flourescent tubes have mercury in them? What happens to them after they burn out? Don’t they go into landfills? Where’s the concern over that?

Also, when they rate the cost savings of CFL’s, are they rating just the CFL lamp itself, or are they including the juice that the electronics in the bulb’s base require to get the bulb to work?

[balls]

I know people who have/had mercury poisoning. It doesn’t take much exposure and it creeps up very slowly. You may not notice the symptoms but other probably will. Forgetfulness and cognitive deficit are a couple of the symptoms.

In short, exposure to mercury could cause you to become as dumb as a doorknob over time and not notice. It affects your nervous system and brain. I don’t believe there is any way to de-toxify other than wait many years for you body to flush it out.

[GreyFriar]

Lets ban them and go back to whale oil lamps and candles.

[Salamander]

We’ve had them for years in every socket and our light bill has actually increased.

I put 4 of the 150W daylight equivalents in a fixture over my art work area and wound up putting back the 150W daylight incandescents.

Not only were they not “daylight equivalent” they were markedly dimmer.

This is anecdotal but real life experience is often a better judge than “scientific tests”.

[OneRatToGo]

I have no problem with CFL bulbs. I personally don’t use them and probably never will. My objection is with the government mandating the usage of one type of bulb over the other.

If they are better or worse then let the free market and consumer’s decide.

[Salamander]

So is agonizing neurological leg pain.

There are things you can do to hasten its departure.

Drinking LOTS of straight, unsweetened green tea, eating the disgusting herb cilantro, *lots* of magnesium supplements, “sweating it out” [very miserable experience] and hydrating yourself silly.

I dropped mine 2 points in a month using just those things.

The hard part is maintaining a consistent, constant flushing...if you get it “moving” and then lapse with the herbal jazz, [because you “forgot”] it just redeposits elsewhere.

I learned that the hard way.

I spent 2 weeks where I could barely walk because my legs just didn’t “work right” and hurt like unholy hell.

The unbelievable, mind-numbing fatigue was definitely the worst part of it for me.

Now everything sits lined up on the top shelf of the fridge where I can’t “forget” it if I try.....:)

[oh8eleven]

We’ve had them for years in every socket and our light bill has actually increased.
You have to know they don't perform as advertised because they're pushed by Libs.
EVERYTHING Libs support is a lie whether it's a simple light bulb, a "water saving" toilet, wind turbines, global warming, etc., etc., etc.

[TheBigIf]

What is really sick is that they have a tax-payer funded program for greenies to go door to door and hand them out, and if you aren’t home they just stick them on your doorknob. I got one and then the guy came back and I told him off for putting hazardous materials on my doorknob. We got into a heavy debate. He claimed that I had to drive the used up bulbs to the recycle center and I told him he is nuts and that I am not driving them anywhere.

To simply have everyone switch over to these CFLs is another kneejerk reaction by greenies without weighing out the consequences of their actions. In ten to twenty years we will be hearing about all of the dangers to the earth caused by having trillions of these things improperly disposed of.

[Salamander]

I’ve got a ‘water saving’ toilet.

Thank God I also have a good well with unlimited amounts of water....LOL

[can I even buy a “normal” toilet anymore?!? this one is utterly useless]

[ontap]

Agreed...florescent lights have been around a long time. I’ve cleaned up after hundreds if not thousands!!!

[OrangeHoof]

Live in a city where the leadership kowtows to environazis? Go to your next council meeting and DEMAND that all city-run holiday lighting this winter be with CFL bulbs, not incandescent bulbs and watch these hypocrites run for cover.

DEMAND CFL holiday lights or NO holiday lights! And watch them squirm. And then tell them if they won’t even enforce this for their own civic displays, how DARE they demand it of us in our homes.