By the year 2012, incandescent light bulbs will be banned in Canada. Natural Resources Minister Gary Lunn said the ban would reduce greenhouse gas emissions by more than six million tonnes a year and save homeowners about $60 annually in electricity costs. So how will we light up our lives in the future?

While the technology is available to rid the planet of Thomas Edison's 129-year-old lighting system, a switch to compact fluorescent lamps (CFLs) may be a switch in the wrong direction. CFLs are reported to use 75 percent less energy than the incandescent light bulbs, however, if broken, CFLs, which contain methyl mercury, can become a significant health hazard.

Toxic light?
Depending on the level of exposure, the effects can include a decrease in IQ, delays in walking and talking, lack of coordination, blindness, and seizures. In adults, extreme exposure can lead to health effects such as personality changes, tremors, changes in vision, deafness, loss of muscle coordination and sensation, memory loss, intellectual impairment, and even death, according to Health Canada.

Infants and unborn children may be at the most risk. According to Health Canada, if a pregnant woman is exposed to methyl mercury it can cross the placenta into the fetus, where it would build up in the fetal brain and other tissues. This heavy metal can also be passed to an infant after birth through breast milk. A child's developing nervous system is particularly sensitive to methyl mercury.

If a CFL bulb breaks, the Environmental Protection Agency recommends avoiding inhalation of any particles and keep children well away from the area. The broken pieces should be carefully swept up, not vacuumed, since the exhaust may further spread particles. Put broken pieces into a plastic bag and wipe the area with a damp cloth, putting the cloth in the plastic bas as well. Dispose as hazardous waste.

Recently, a woman living in Prospect, Maine broke a bulb in her daughter's bedroom. Unsure of how dangerous the mercury was, she contacted the Maine Department of Environmental Protection. They found the mercury level in the bedroom unsafe and recommended an environmental cleanup estimated at $2000.

Even if everyone is careful and nobody ever breaks a CFL bulb, there is the problem of our country being lit up by millions of bulbs that will eventually have to be disposed of. Every bulb must be recycled by a suitable site, such as a hardware store, that is able to handle the potentially dangerous material. It's safe to say that the unsafe bulbs will not always be disposed of in a responsible and safe manner. As a result many of the bulbs will end up in landfills emitting vaporous methyl mercury.

Light years ahead
Fortunately, there are alternatives to the CFLs. Mercury-free, tungsten-halogen lamps use 40 percent less power and last up to times time longer than the incandescents. However, the lamps burn extremely hot and can pose a fire hazard. Halogen torchiere floor lamps have been known to tip over and cause fires.

A better option is light-emitting iode (LED) bulbs, which have been used in wristwatches and Christmas decorations for many years. These are far superior to the CFLs because they don't contain mercury and last up to 10 times longer. The draw back of LEDs so far is price and availability. They are not yet available at local hardware stores, but can be purchased online for less $50.

Designers have overcome initial LED problems, such as low output and a hard, white quality, however, the technology is fairly new. As we near the 2012 incandescent cut-off date, demand for LEDs will increase, which will allow for improved technology and selection, and lower prices. For those of us who are concerned about the environment, and our health and safety, investing in LEDs now, instead of waiting five years, is a step in the right direction.

Ed Ronald is a freelance writer based in New Westminster, BC. He feels that environmental issues are the most important ones we face today.

Want to search for other articles that may interest you?

Readers of this article also enjoyed...