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Politics : The Environmentalist Thread -- Ignore unavailable to you. Want to Upgrade?

To: longnshort who wrote (12251)	5/3/2007 12:33:49 PM
From: longnshort	Respond to of 36917

Now we know what is wrong with rat, highly toxic heavy metal that can cause brain damage and learning disabilities in fetuses and children" and as "one of the most poisonous forms of pollution."

To: longnshort who wrote (12251)	5/3/2007 4:45:50 PM
From: Wharf Rat	Read Replies (1) \| Respond to of 36917

$4.28 for the bulb and labor? Got 28 at X-mas for 2 bits each for the lights. I figure it takes people 3 minutes max change them. Mercury Mercury is used in many household items: thermostats, thermometers, fluorescent lights, batteries and switches for appliances, lights and automobiles. Exposure to large quantities of mercury in our air, water and fish we eat is a documented risk to human health. An extremely small amount of mercury—an average of four milligrams—is sealed within the glass tubing of a CFL. This is said to be about the size of the period at the end of this sentence. It is an essential, irreplaceable element in CFLs, and it’s what allows the bulb to be such an efficient light source. The mercury in a CFL is no threat to the environment unless the glass is broken. For a basis of comparison, there are about one to three grams of mercury in your average home thermometer. It would take between 250 to 1000 CFLs to equal that same amount.4 Ironically, a regular incandescent light bulb actually releases much more mercury into the environment than a CFL. CFLs prevent mercury from entering our air, where it most affects our health by reducing energy demand at the power plant. The highest source of mercury in our air comes from burning fossil fuels such as coal, the most common fuel used in Michigan to produce electricity. A CFL uses up to 75% less energy than an incandescent light bulb and lasts up to 10 times longer. A power plant will emit 10mg of mercury to produce the electricity to run an incandescent bulb compared to only 2.4mg of mercury to run a CFL for the same time.7 (mg = milligrams) Disposal - Some communities offer disposal or recycling programs that accept fluorescents. Check with your local or municipal government entity responsible for solid waste or household hazardous waste collection. • Disposal through the household hazardous waste collection is preferred but you can lawfully dispose of CFLs in your household garbage. To reduce the risk of bulb breakage or contamination and to protect yourself and the garbage staff from cuts, wrap the bulb in a sealed plastic bag and discard it with your trash. • Never incinerate CFLs (or any other mercury-containing materials for that matter). • If your bulb breaks, your greatest risk actually is being cut by broken glass. Handle it sensibly and be certain to sweep up all the glass fragments (don’t vacuum, because that can disperse particles). Place the broken pieces in a plastic bag and wipe the area with a damp paper towel to pick up any stray shards of glass or powder. Keep CFLs working for the environment. For more information, see EPA’s “Fact Sheet: Mercury in Compact Fluorescent Lamps CFLs” ===== Junk science is right... Steve MILLOY, the junk science guy for Fox News and an inveterate climate-change denier, worked first as a Philip Morris consultant. Exxon, of course, has largely funded assorted friends and projects in an effort to thank people for making lots of carbon." Message 23502439 michigan.gov