Ticking Toxic Time Bomb

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Ooops, I dropped the Light Bulb and it Exploded!

Your friendly local electric supplier, after raising the cost of supplying you electricity, suggests that you use ENERGY STAR-qualified compact fluorescent light bulbs (CFLs). Because they use less than 25 percent of the electricity standard bulbs use and last 10 times longer. I guess if the bulbs last longer, they need to charge more!?

'GREEN' LIGHT BULBS PACK TOXIC INGREDIENT

LiveScience Staff Writer Andrea Thompson.

COMPACT FLUORESCENT LIGHT BULBS (CFLs) are widely touted as environmentally friendly, but they have created a recycling headache for the EPA and local governments. More often than not, their toxic ingredients simply end up in landfills, where the chemicals can leach into soil and water and poison fish and other wildlife.

The bulbs contain mercury and should NOT be tossed in the trash like regular light bulbs.

“They’re very efficient, but once they’re used up they become a ticking toxic time bomb," said Leonard Robinson, chief deputy director of the California Department of Toxic Substances Control. "They need to be CAPTURED (?) and recycled." …

“There’s not a lot of options out there for recycling them,” said Joe Dunlop, a program coordinator for the Georgia Department of Community Affairs.

As of Feb. 8, 2006, it is actually illegal for California residents to throw CFLs away.

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WHAT HAPPENS TO A BROKEN CFL?

If a CFL should break in your home, the EPA recommends the following:

Before Clean-up: VENTILATE THE ROOM
1. Have people and pets leave the room, and don't let anyone walk through the breakage area on their way out.
2. Open a window and leave the room for 15 minutes or more.
3. Shut off the central forced-air heating/air conditioning system, if you have one.
Visit for more info.


IF YOUR MEDICINE CABINET THERMOMETER BREAKS: on carpet, curtains, upholstery or other absorbent surfaces, these CONTAMINATED ITEMS SHOULD BE THROWN AWAY in accordance with the disposal means outlined below. Only cut and remove the affected portion of the contaminated carpet for disposal.

This is a public life-saving announcement.