Word: cfl
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...until two weeks ago that Justine S. Chow ’10, a long-time user of compact fluorescent lamp (CFL) bulbs, learned that there were specific procedures for the proper use and disposal of the much-touted alternative to incandescents...
Chow says she first discovered the consequences of CFL use when she met with her professor for Engineering Sciences 164: “Aqueous and Environmental Chemistry.” Chow and Steven C. Wofsy, professor of atmospheric and environmental studies, initially discussed her group project on the toxicity of mercury, before the topic turned to the harm CFL bulbs can cause if used or disposed improperly...
...Though CFL bulbs expend only one-fourth the energy of their incandescent counterparts, they also contain trace amounts of toxic mercury. According to Wofsy, the 5 milligrams of mercury per bulb “doesn’t sound like much, but it adds...
Wofsy explains that when CFL bulbs are simply thrown away, mercury can enter the waste stream, posing a hazard to trash workers and potentially leeching into water basins and the atmosphere. In addition, most CFL bulbs are incompatible with dimmer switches, and must be cleaned up a particular way if they break...
While Chow has been using CFL bulbs for years, she says she was surprised about the potential problems they can pose. “I was only aware of how green they were and amazed at their efficiency,” she says...