The dangers of CFLs

 New reports reveal that the required CFL lightbulbs can cause fires. The Daily Mail:

Compact fluorescent lamps, which will gradually replace traditional incandescent bulbs, are a fire hazard that could burn down your home, experts have warned.The lamps (CFLs) use electricity to heat an element in the lamp’s base that leads the mercury vapor gas in the coils to emit light. But when a CFL can no longer produce light, the electronics in its base will still try to function, sometimes leading to overheating, smoke and fire. 

  Popular Mechanics spotted this problem a few years ago. Did you know....

* Problem: The bulb failed because it was installed in an inappropriate lighting fixture, one that it wasn't rated for.* Solution: Read the bulb package's fine print. Some bulbs are meant to be used only in downward-facing fixtures, others in enclosed and recessed, three-way or outdoor fixtures. Additionally, there are CFLs rated to be oper­ated by a device such as a dimmer, timer or photoelectric eye. 

 And did you know CFLS don't dim, can't stand the cold, can cause skin problems, emit EMFs?

  And did you know CFLs contain dangerous mercury?

But the bulbs contain small amounts of mercury, a neurotoxin, and the companies and federal government haven't come up with effective ways to get Americans to recycle them.
"The problem with the bulbs is that they'll break before they get to the landfill. They'll break in containers, or they'll break in a dumpster or they'll break in the trucks. Workers may be exposed to very high levels of mercury when that happens," says John Skinner, executive director of the Solid Waste Association of North America, the trade group for the people who handle trash and recycling.

  And don't think you can just throw those dangerous bulbs in the trash. They have to be recycled. That's a lot of mercury leeching into landfills. The government recommends that you visit earth911 to find out where you should recycle those bulbs. Earth 9/11. Or 9.1.1. Earth emergency. Get it?
  And those CFLs that are supposed to last longer and thus cost more? Don't.
  In case you break a bulb, here are the government's recommendations:

CLEANUP AND DISPOSAL OVERVIEW
The most important steps to reduce exposure to mercury vapor from a broken bulb are:
1. Before cleanup
  a. Have people and pets leave the room.
  b. Air out the room for 5-10 minutes by opening a window or door to the outdoor environment.
  c. Shut off the central forced air heating/air conditioning (H&AC) system, if      you have one.
  d. Collect materials needed to clean up broken bulb.
2. During cleanup
  a. Be thorough in collecting broken glass and visible powder.
  b. Place cleanup materials in a sealable container.
3. After cleanup
  a. Promptly place all bulb debris and cleanup materials outdoors in a trash container or protected area until materials can be disposed of properly.  Avoid leaving any bulb fragments or cleanup materials indoors.
  b. For several hours, continue to air out the room where the bulb was broken and leave the H&AC system shut off.

  OTOH, the government itself IS concerned about that mercury leeching into the system. So concerned that they are shutting down power plants, a move that will drastically increase the cost and availability of power in this country:

Simply put, EPA grossly exaggerated the health benefits of its proposed mercury rules – and then claimed additional mercury benefits based on double counting of reductions inparticulate matter. It also ignored the adverse effects that its rules will inflict. Not only is EPA’s anti-mercury campaign scaring mothers and children into not eating nutritious fish that is rich in Omega-3 fatty acids. It is also raising electricity heating, air conditioning and food costs, impairing electrical reliability, costing jobs, and thereby harming the health and welfare of countless Americans.

  So, oh, well.
  We may not have enough power to run any light bulbs the way we're going now.
  But, don't worry. Nancy Pelosi and Barack Obama will have their million dollar vacations, where they will surely have light to help them write more onerous regulations for the little guy.