By Katie Stobbart (Contributor) – Email
Print Edition: February 27, 2013
In my basement, I have a hidden stash of incandescent light bulbs. Canadian Tire had them on sale about a year ago, and because there were already indications that compact fluorescent bulbs (CFLs) would make them obsolete, I stocked up.
For the moment, I am able to choose which type of bulbs to use, but this will not always be the case. The Government of Canada plans to phase out the old incandescent bulbs in 2014. It is not dangerous to use the old bulbs, just less efficient, and the choice to use CFLs could result in a slight decrease on my energy bill. However, I have concerns about CFLs, and I think we should have the right to choose whether or not we want to continue to use incandescent bulbs.
CFLs contain small amounts (about four milligrams in each bulb) of mercury, which is a neurotoxin. According to the World Health Organization, “mercury may have toxic effects on the nervous, digestive and immune systems, and on lungs, kidneys, skin and eyes.” It is also included in their list of the top 10 chemicals of major public health concern.
CFLs do meet Canadian standards for electrical safety, so we shouldn’t have to worry about bulbs spontaneously bursting into flame or zapping us on contact, but the Environment Canada fact sheet on the bulbs does not address the potential hazards of light sources containing mercury in the event of a house fire.
Not all fires are caused by electrical devices. When heated, mercury emits toxic vapours into the air. Exposure to these vapours can cause serious health complications, especially in pregnant women.
To call CFLs safe simply because they are unlikely to cause an electrical fire underplays the severity of this exposure. There may be only small quantities of mercury in each light bulb, but most homes have many light fixtures, and some of those use more than one bulb.
It is much more likely to shatter a light bulb than it is to have a house fire. CFLs cannot be disposed of in the same way as incandescents; as hazardous waste, they are not to be thrown in the garbage, and direct contact with skin must be avoided when collecting the shards of the bulb.
Is it really worth saving a few dollars on the energy bill to risk having mercury in our homes and workplaces? Surely there are ways to be energy efficient without compromising our personal and environmental health.
My other concerns with compact fluorescent light bulbs include electrical pollution and ultraviolet radiation. It is recommended on the CFL fact sheet that people stay about a foot away from the lights while in use and “limit close exposure to three consecutive hours.” That kind of advice does not inspire my confidence in CFLs, so I will continue to use incandescent light bulbs, at least until the choice is taken away from me. After the old bulbs are phased out, at least I’ll have my stash.
