Light bulb warning...a must read

[Farmer Kitty]

Just more info to consider-not debate. Some places don't recycle at all or are just starting to. And while other places recycyle it isn't always easy to find someone who will take the florescent bulbs. In this area no one takes them! That is a problem in and of itself much less the danger if a bulb breaks.

 

[OHMYCHICKIES]

one time I had one explode from the socket in the bathroom because I accidentallyhit it with a broom, glass everywhere...this was before the announcement of mercury...I just cleaned it up just like any light bulb breaking...I never got sick but maybe it doesn't happen every time

 

[sunbury chick]

I don't know if anyone else did it, but when I was a kid,we used to break thermomters and play with the mercury.It was like a little ball,you could roll it.I'm sure other people over 55 did it too. How stupid! Also, in school, our science teacher let us handle mercury.He's dead now,I 'm not sure thats what killed him ,although It's highly possible....

 

[Southern28Chick]

Quote:
I wasn't trying to debate with you Southern, I was trying to get more information. Are there any other articles you have read other than this one that may give some suggestions on what we should do about the problem?

I wasn't referring to you. I have been searching and to tell you the truth I am 5 minutes away from selling my doublewide and building a shack to live in with no electricity at all. We have strayed so far from the simple life that I don't believe most people can ever recover from the spoils of "modern life". So sad...

 

[1acrefarm]

Not trying to debate. We get much of our electricity from coal. Coal plants put loads of mercury into our air. Who knows where it goes from there. I sometimes wonder if they prevent less, as much or more mercury emissions than they cause.

 

[ZykloniaDark-GothikRanchr]

Quote:
not my point at all. These bulbs save energy, I understand the danger, but people spray insecticide all over their homes, and that is, to me, more dangerous. I am an AVID environmentalist, but I have talked til I am blue in the face, to no avail. things just get worse, so I do what I can to help in my home, and I understand what you are saying...but the point is still, it will take alot more than not using a light bulb to save the earth!!! and I think that it is very SAD.

 

[Southern28Chick]

Quote:
not my point at all. These bulbs save energy, I understand the danger, but people spray insecticide all over their homes, and that is, to me, more dangerous. I am an AVID environmentalist, but I have talked til I am blue in the face, to no avail. things just get worse, so I do what I can to help in my home, and I understand what you are saying...but the point is still, it will take alot more than not using a light bulb to save the earth!!! and I think that it is very SAD.

Sorry. I'm never afraid to say it if I misunderstand a post and that's what I did.

I live as simple of a lifestyle as I can and try to educate others. Heck, I'm writing a book about it! It is sad how things are now a days. Nobody cares and that's the worst part. But what are we to do? Just live out the rest of our lives trying to do the best we can and let others make their own mistakes...even when they affect us all.

 

[Southern28Chick]

Just a side note. All light bulbs are bad...

I stopped buying them a while ago and when the few I have left burn out I'm using candles from now on. Candles are cheaper and they don't affect the environment....and they're romantic.

Seriously though. I quite artificial light...

 

[Crunchie]

I know where you're coming from, Trisha.

I do think, though, that with the proper education (i.e., people are made aware of the fact that breaking a bulb can be hazardous, and that they should seek recycling options instead of landfilling when disposing the bulbs) that the CFC bulbs are the "lesser of two evils," so to speak.

Mercury is bad, I agree, not a debatable point. But I think (and I don't know the numbers off the top of my head) that, pound for pound (greenhouse gases), incandescent bulbs do more harm to the environment.

 

[Southern28Chick]

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Both are harmful...that's why I quit. No more bulbs for me. I can't wait for the day that I can move on 20 acres and build a electricity free cabin with an outhouse and livestock roaming around. Seriously, if an outhouse was ok for my momma...it's ok with me.