The Twisted Thinking Behind the Curly Frikkin' Light Bulb

It goes something like this: so what if this bulb contains dangerous levels of mercury such that cleaning it up after a breakage is a really big deal--a Hazmat-kind of big deal? The important thing is that it saves energy. From a Ceeb report about B.C.'s ban on non-hazardous incandescents:

But the shift is being made despite longstanding concerns about the environmental hazards posed by the alternative — the compact fluorescent light.

A prohibition taking effect with the arrival of 2011 prevents retailers in the province from ordering 75 and 100 watt incandescent bulbs once their stock runs out and then selling only CFLs.

CFLs use one-third or less of the energy of incandescent bulbs and last between eight and 15 times longer.

But you can't just throw compact fluorescents out when they die and must recycle them, because they contain mercury, according to B.C. Hydro's Jennifer Young.

"CFLs should not be in the garbage for disposal," Young said. "Many retailers like the Home Depot and Canadian Tire offer free recycling."

Each CFL contains about five mg of mercury, enough to make 6,000 gallons of water toxic.

Mercury can cause brain and kidney damage in humans...

If some other household object contained the same level of mercury, there would be immediate calls to ban it outright. But because the twisty bulb has been embraced by the eco-freaks it has been allowed to completely sideline its safe, mercury-less incandescent competition.

If that isn't the definition of madness, I don't know what is.

Update: From the B.C. Hydro site:

Is the mercury contained in a CFL bad for my health?

The mercury that CFLs contain will not cause health or environmental issues while inside the tubes. It can only become a problem when you discard or break the bulbs and the mercury vapour becomes airborne. For more information on mercury and your health visit Environment Canada's Mercury Basic Facts webpage. Mercury in the environment is known to have adverse effects on fish, humans and other animals. To keep mercury from becoming a hazard, dispose of CFLs properly.

Health Canada released a report in December 2009. The study found that: "CFLs as demonstrated by the test results do not pose a health hazard to the general population from either the ultraviolet radiation or the associated electric and magnetic fields."

Gotcha--intact the twisties are safe; broken they're as dangerous as all get-out.

Update: Dare we dub it the "Minimata" light bulb?

Update: Here are some other things Health Canada says (re twisty breakage):

•If you break a CFL, follow these directions for clean-up:

◦Leave the room

■Remove people and pets from the room and keep them out of the room during the clean-up process.

■Avoid stepping on any broken glass.

◦Ventilation

■Ventilate the room for at least 15 minutes prior to starting clean-up by opening windows and doors to the outdoors. This will ensure that mercury vapour levels are reduced before you start cleaning.

◦Clean-up Directions for Hard and Carpeted Surfaces

■Do not use a vacuum to clean up the initial breakage, as it will spread the mercury vapour and dust throughout the area and may contaminate the vacuum.

■Wear disposable gloves, if available, to avoid direct contact with mercury and to prevent cuts.

■Scoop or sweep up the broken pieces and debris with two pieces of stiff paper or cardboard. Do not use a broom.

■Use sticky tape, such as duct tape or masking tape, to pick up any remaining fine glass or powder.

■Wipe the area with a damp paper towel, cloth or disposable wet wipe to remove any residual particles.

■Place the broken glass and clean-up materials in a glass container with a tight fitting lid to further minimize the release of mercury vapour.

◦Carpeting - Steps to Take After the Initial Clean-up

■If the rug is removable, take it outside, shake and air it out for as long as is practical.

■The first time you vacuum on installed carpet after the clean-up, shut the door to the room or close off the area as much as possible and ventilate the room in which the lamp was broken by opening the windows and doors to the outside. When the vacuuming is done, remove the bag, wipe the vacuum with a damp paper towel, cloth or disposable wet wipe, and then place the vacuum bag and paper towel in a sealed plastic bag outside. In the case of a canister vacuum, wipe the canister out with a wet paper towel and dispose of the towel as outlined above. Continue to ventilate the room for 15 minutes once the vacuuming is completed.

◦Disposal

■Immediately place waste material outside of the building in a protected area away from children.

■Dispose of the waste at a household hazardous waste location as soon as possible. Check with local, provincial, or territorial authorities about the requirements for recycling and for the location of household hazardous waste depots or pick-up.

■Do not dispose of the waste in your household trash.

■For further information on disposal, please contact Environment Canada.

Easy-peasy, right?