[Sqg-program] media coverage about compact fluorescent bulbs

[Tenace, Laurie]

Hi all,

 

Below is a link to a video clip aired by an Orlando news station. Although it
doesn't include a lot of wrong information (except for calling DEP the
Department of Environmental Health; claiming that there is Phosphorus rather
than "phosphor powder" in lamps; and showing that mercury is Mg on the
periodic table), the tone is very negative. I wanted to show you this as
articles through various media are hitting regularly, usually with a negative
spin. Please be sure you have our guidelines (found here:
http://www.dep.state.fl.us/waste/categories/mercury/default.htm) so you can
share them with any concerned citizens or reporters who call you. You can
always direct people to me if you want.

 

Thanks for helping to promote the use of compact fluorescent lamps in Florida
-

Laurie

 

Laurie J. Tenace
Florida Department of Environmental Protection
PH: (850) 245-8759
Laurie.Tenace at dep.state.fl.us 







7/26/07

 

http://www.local6.com/news/13757811/detail.html

 

WKMG-TV, ORLANDO

 

Energy-Saving Light Bulbs Could Present Danger

 

ORLANDO, Fla. -- Energy-saving compact fluorescent light bulbs that are
supposed to last 10 times longer than conventional bulbs could put your
family in danger, according to a Local 6 investigation.

 

Florida's Department of Environmental Health has encouraged everyone to
switch to the energy-saving light bulbs, but also has strict guidelines for
using them because they could pose a serious health threat, especially to
children.

 

The compact fluorescent bulbs contain toxic mercury and unlike incandescent
bulbs, they can't just be tossed in the trash.

 

The CFL bulbs have to be taken to a hazardous waste site at your landfill
when they are spent.

 

If the bulbs are broken, people should be moved out of the room and windows
and doors should be opened for 15 to 30 minutes for the mercury gas to
dissipate. The broken bulb should then be swept up using rubber gloves.

 

Officials warn not to use a vacuum that could spread the mercury remnants
throughout a house.

 

The remaining pieces should be picked up with a wet paper towel and duct
tape, put in multiple bags and then taken to the landfill.

 

"I'm thrown off here," CFL bulb user Mike Fishers said. "I thought I was
doing a good thing."

 

Bruno Ferraro, who is the president of Grove Scientific Engineering, said
there is no reason to fear CFLs as long as guidelines are followed.

 

"The benefits greatly outweigh the risks of owning a florescent bulb,"
Ferraro said.

 

"And if you think you're getting away from mercury dangers by not using these
energy saving bulbs then you might just want to look up," Local 6's Donald
Forbes said.

 

Inside of the long fluorescent bulbs found in many offices there are mercury
vapors, Forbes reported.

 

A recent report said if every American home replaced just one light blurb
with an energy star-qualified CFL it would save enough energy to light more
than 3 million homes for a year and prevent greenhouse gas emissions equal to
more than 800,000 cars.

 

Watch Local 6 News for more on this story.

 

 

 

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