Article published Aug 17, 2007

Fluorescent bulbs

For Dr. Dan Gold's Healer's Corner (July 17, page 1L) on mercury in compact fluorescent lights, the features editor that day unfortunately chose the title "Mercury lights the way to a toxic future," giving the impression that one should avoid CFLs. But a quick check of facts reveals something different.

The Environmental Protection Agency fact sheet "Mercury in Compact Fluorescent Lamps" says that "CFLs present an opportunity to prevent mercury from entering our air where it most affects our health." The greatest source of mercury comes from burning coal in plants producing electric power. A CFL uses 75 percent less energy than an incandescent light bulb and lasts at least six times longer. A coal-fired power plant will emit 10 mg of mercury to produce the electricity to power an incandescent bulb compared to only 2.4 mg of mercury to power a CFL for the same time. A CFL contains about 4 mg of mercury, but this mercury is not released into the air unless the CFL is broken. With the increasing popularity of CFLs as energy saving devices, there will soon be household hazardous waste or recycling programs to make sure the mercury stays captured. Great Falls has discussed, but does not have such programs yet. Until these programs are introduced, the EPA suggests disposing of burned-out CFLs by sealing them in plastic bags before disposing of them in your trash. So using CFLs helps us avoid a toxic future by putting less, not more mercury in the air we breathe.

— Ron Mathsen, Great Falls