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By Larry West, About.com Guide to Environmental Issues since 2005

Compact Fluorescent Lamps: Health Hazard or Environmental Benefit?

Thursday July 5, 2007
Sure, compact fluorescent lamps use about 75 percent less energy than standard incandescent light bulbs and last up to 10 times longer, but they also contain mercury, a toxic heavy metal that can cause health problems ranging from headaches to cancer. Does that make them a bad choice for a green lifestyle, or is there a way to get the environmental benefits without the potential health risks? Learn more about the mercury in compact fluorescent lamps and how you can manage it without a hazmat suit.
Photo by Justin Sullivan/Getty Images

Comments

July 21, 2007 at 4:35 pm
(1) JoeLed says:

You are right Larry… the CCFL are great to save energy, but not our environment… i think the real solution is the LED, right now are very expensive, but I guess soon we will get in any store the LED bulbs and lamps, like any other light technology but without mercury!

Joe

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