Energy saving bulbs 'release cancer causing chemicals', say scientists (CFL lightbulb warning)

dailymail uk ^ | 11-20-11

[rawhide]

Energy saving bulbs emit cancer causing chemicals it was claimed last night as new fears were raised about their safety.

Scientists said they should not be left on for long periods of time or placed close to a person's head because they release poisonous materials.

The EU has unveiled plans to phase out 'normal' incandescent bulbs by the end of next year as they try to cut carbon emissions.

They should not be used by adults to read or kept near a child's head all night, the experts said.

While it is already known that harmful amounts of Mercury are released if one of the new 'green' bulbs is broken, the latest research shows other carcinogenic chemicals are emitted when they are switched on.

The German research shows that the chemicals are released as a form of steam.

The harmful substances include phenol - a poison injected by the Nazis to kill thousands of concentration camp victims during World War II - and the human toxins naphthalene and styrene.

(snip)

[Cyclone59]

Not to mention that these CFL bulbs are mostly made in China which has such a great record for product safety.

And if I am not mistaken, the company behind it all is GE

[EQAndyBuzz]

“Unintended consequences. It’s a concept liberals are incapable of grasping.”

Now they will fix it by giving the EPA greater powers.

I am thinking of opening a boutique light bulb factory. Special orders only.

[Oztrich Boy]

As I read this, using CFGs will keep moths away. Win!

[onedoug]

Literally, Bush´s fault.

[rlmorel]

Whenever I see the debate about CFL's, I post these two graphics, the first one from the Livermore Lab describing energy usage in various sectors (Great graphic) and the second, the contribution by CFL's used by households.

In this second one, I have altered it to blow up a section of it. The important thing to look at in the enlarged section is the contribution by all private residential lighting (a thin red line) and the energy usage if we assume a 90% increase in efficiency with all CFL's (green line overlaid)

Basically, we make people buy these things that give lousier lighting, longer warm up times, increased initial expenditure, are demonstably more difficult to dispose of, likely are more hazardous to the environment and don't last as long as advertised...all to make a change that is completely inconsequential.

[faucetman]

Why would you all just accept this as true? My first inclination is that if a scientist said it, then it must be NOT be true. Sounds like BS to me. We already know the mercury thing was bogus, (as long as you don't EAT CFLs).

“CFL’s give off less heat than incandescent bulbs, for the same Lumens of light. This is why they use up to 75% less electricity.” That's ***SEVENTY FIVE*** per cent, in case you missed that.

http://open4energy.com/forum/home/lig/energy_saving_light_bulbs_incandescent_cfl_0912142219

Oh, by the way, here are a few things I found online. I'm sure you will just automatically believe them, so you better get rid of that stockpile of incandescent light bulbs before you DIE.

“Argon” [(used in incandescent light bulbs)] “is 25% more dense than air and is considered highly dangerous in closed areas. It is also difficult to detect because it is colorless, odorless, and tasteless. In confined spaces, it is known to result in death due to asphyxiation”

“A colorless odorless gas. Both argon and nitrogen” [(both used in incandescent light bulbs)] “are noncombustible. The mixture can asphyxiate by the displacement of air. Prolonged exposure to fire or intense heat may cause the container to rupture violently and rocket”

“The “white stuff” [(in light bulbs)] “is essentially paint and contains several heavy metals, primarily platinum. It also has several organic solvents that may remain in a latent form, any of which are carcinogens”

Info from UK
http://www.greenpeace.org.uk/blog/climate/green-light-bulbs-give-you-cancer-and-other-tall-stories-20080108

[DBrow]

‘contains several heavy metals, primarily platinum.”

Wow! I just checked the cost of platinum, and I’m going out to increase my stash of incans! I think they mean titanium.

As for the thread article, ANY plastic resin heated up will outgas stuff. I note the lack of numbers- is this part per quadrillion or merely part per trillion levels of stuff?

The rest of it reads as pure scare. Salt contains deadly chlorine gas, used as a weapon of mass destruction by the Nazis in World War I.

[monocle]

The feds have found a clever way to reduce Medicare costs.

[TheOldLady]

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[rlmorel]

I agree. Then environmental scare tactics are unnecessary. But to force private citizens to buy these for their homes in order to combat an increase in greenhouse gas, that is equally as bogus, in my opinion, and that is what I take issue with.

[DBrow]

I suspect that teh Gorebulb issue has NOTHING to do with global warming or the environment.

It looks like some coalition of manufacturers in China looked for a way to boost output by a large amount, and paid US politicians and Greens to make their product mandatory and the competitor forbidden.

Soon all lighting devices will be made in China, and only a few specialty bulbs will be built here at all.

[rlmorel]

You are probably right.

I almost get the feeling they implemented the legislation just because...they can. What good is power if you can’t exercise it on something completely useless and irrelevant?

I can almost hear he exclamations of glee from the statists:

BUREAUCRAT#1: “Hey! They SWALLOWED it!!! What can we try next? How about limiting the amount of water they are allowed to flush down the toilet?”

BUREAUCRAT#2: “OOOH! I have a better one! Let’s outlaw cereals with sugar in them! Or transfats in foods!

[sionnsar]

don't last as long as advertised

Maybe for some, but we started lamping our house in the 90s and reached "full" lamping (all shaded lamps, with one still-working rarely-used incandescent holdout bulb, replaced) several years ago. In all that time, only 4 CFLs failed (and the latest was the oldest installed). Except for dual-lamp ceiling fixtures, we've only replaced incandescents when they failed. In that dozen-odd years we've had WAY more incandescents than CFLs fail.

Having expected a higher failure than experienced, we now have a shelf full of replacements in case they're ever needed.

There is something odd about houses with high failures and others with low; I wonder if it's related to power-quality (power factor)?

And as regarding chemical emissions, I bet these are WAY less than the old vacuum-tube TVs, radios and hi-fi sets that emitted quite distinctive odors when operating.

[rlmorel]

I don’t buy into the concept of the poison gas emissions. I agree with the other poster that is bogus scare tactics.

The high failure rate could have something to do with our electrical system in my house. We are preparing to spend some beaucoup bucks to get it up to code.

[sionnsar]

Ouch. If it's like some houses I've had in the past, that could be expensive.

We've got some hack wiring in the garage, but are slowly replacing it.

[rlmorel]

I am replacing a fence and electrical...between those two, close to $20K...gulp.

But you know what? I feel grateful I can do it. I know a lot of people living paycheck to paycheck, bill to bill.

[Fire_on_High]

Honestly, I dunno that I buy this. Do we want to swallow scare tales when they happen to agree with our current likes and dislikes?

Everyone should be able to have the light bulbs they want to buy available. I’d never want to go back to a massively heat producing incandescent bulb, just as fervently as you don’t want to give yours up. Freedom would be us both getting our way.

[rawhide]

I choose to err on the side of caution.

Let me ask you a question, do you believe cell phone radiation is harmful to your brain?

[lighthouse10]

Unfortunately the cancer issue is not the only problem with CFLs, or even LEDs...

Home Safety : Fire Risks — Radiation — Health
The CFL Mercury Issue: Breakage — Recycling — Dumping — Mining — Manufacturing — Transport — Power Plants
LEDs: The Lead and Arsenic Issue
Lead, arsenic and other toxic content, home breakage and disposal concerns
The Overall Small Energy Savings: USA Dept of Energy and EU official sources, less than 1% of society energy usage saved from light bulb regulations
( http://ceolas.net/#li18eax )

Notice also how major light bulb manufacturers welcome the ban on unprofitable cheap simple types of incandescent light bulbs,
allowing them to sell more CFLs, that people would not otherwise buy - and, arguably, justifiably would not buy.....

[sionnsar]

I almost get the feeling they implemented the legislation just because...they can. What good is power if you can’t exercise it on something completely useless and irrelevant?

You have just defined Congress. A lot of state legislatures also, but sometimes my state's legislators actually listen to us little folks.