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Monday, May 21, 2007
The brave new world of lighting includes . . . mercury poisoning?
So Queen's Park and 24 Sussex want Canadians to move put the old light bulbs in the past and enter the wonderful age of compact fluorescent lightbulbs. After all, the CFLs bring efficiency, greenhouse gas reduction, and a much greater risk of mercury poisoning if you accidentally break the bulb(Washington Times via Rightside VA):
The DEP (ed. note: Department of Environmental Protection) sent a specialist to Mrs. Bridges' house to test for mercury contamination. The specialist found mercury levels in the bedroom in excess of 6 times the state's "safe" level for mercury contamination of 300 billionths of a gram per cubic meter.
. . .
Given that there are about 4 billion lightbulb sockets in American households, we're looking at the possibility of creating billions of hazardous wastes sites like the Bridges' bedroom. Usually, environmentalists want hazardous materials out of, not in, our homes.
Yikes!
Of course, we must include the usual hypocrisy that goes with all things "green":
Greenpeace also recommends CFLs, while simultaneously bemoaning contamination caused by a mercury thermometer factory in India. But where are mercury-containing CFLs made? Not in the U.S., under strict environmental regulation but in India and China, where environmental standards are virtually nonexistent.
Talk about your inconvenient truths!
Posted by D.J. McGuire on May 21, 2007 in Canadian Politics, Canadian Provincial Politics, International Affairs | Permalink
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Comments
" but in India and China "
Yes, along the path of Kyoto, transferring cash from the First World to the Third World. That's what this light bulb hoax is all about, my friends.
Soon, we will be told that only Chinese cars are friendly to the environment - and only they may be driven on our highways.
Posted by: obc | 2007-05-21 12:40:11 PM
Nuclear powered mercury appliances in our homes - econuts are funny, they would have had kittens if you tried to sell them that idea last week.
Posted by: philanthropist | 2007-05-21 1:02:22 PM
Many of the ideas on the left are contradictory within the special interest groups that make up the base.
Unionized loggers in B.C. and saving the forests is just one. Trying to save the part of the environment (air pollution) by increasing land (mercury) pollution is just another of these.
Posted by: Brent Weston | 2007-05-21 1:31:07 PM
This has to be one of the dumbest policies coming from a conservative (at least in name) government. Not only do they present a dangerous pollution problem, they are bad for eye health and often have been the cause of fires according to a neighbour who is an electrician and volunteer fireman.
First of all this is NOT a government issue and the track record of any government, in any country, trying to fix things shows that they make the problem worse. To-day there is no end to all kinds of nutters determined to run the lives of everyone else. I have had enough of it.
Posted by: Alain | 2007-05-21 2:53:40 PM
don't only condemn the con's. the lib's in ontar-i-ro passed similar edicts. i suspect it will be one of those laws that will never be inforced.
Posted by: spike | 2007-05-21 3:24:53 PM
How many politicians does it take to change a "light bulb." Answer: The whole dingbat gang.
Posted by: Stephen Gray | 2007-05-21 5:31:08 PM
We could send the mercury to China, where they have perfected the impregnation of toxins into our pet/human food supply.
This will allow for the proper dissemination of the mercury over an acceptable time/area.
Posted by: missing link | 2007-05-21 8:03:29 PM
I agree completely with Alain above, and I am not consoled by Spike's comment that the other political parties are also pushing the idea. I want to feel proud of what my government is doing, and the light bulb issue is just pandering to the stupidity of the masses. It is very discouraging to be sent the message that sound conservative policies of sensible economics should be subverted for quick, but shallow, political expediency.
Posted by: JohnSC | 2007-05-21 10:35:15 PM
The level of cynicism and paranoia on this topic is striking. I'm not saying that CFL's are a panacea to our energy and pollution problems, but some fact-based discussion would be much more useful than the typical neocon diatribe ("our lives are being ruined by another government solution to a non-problem"). Please.
Consider that the most common source of electricity is coal combustion; incandescents require more electricity than CFL's, and thus emit more mercury. Over a bulb's lifetime, there is a modest savings in total mercury "potential" emissions, i.e. all the mercury in a CFL plus all the mercury emitted by powering a CFL compared to mercury emitted by powering incandescents. However, this potential emission assumes that everyone disposes of their CFL in illegal and irresponsible ways. If recycled, the actual mercury emissions would be much lower.
And then, there's acid rain precursors and greenhouse gases. 75% reductions in electricity demand if using CFL vs. incandescent!
Some facts are at: http://www.nema.org/lamprecycle/epafactsheet-cfl.pdf
I certainly don't mean to belittle concerns about mercury in CFL's. The concerns are real, the corporate irresponsibility shown by not having better bulb recovery programs is a joke. In this day and age, anyone putting out a good (CFL) with a recyclable toxic metal in it should be required to operate in a cradle-to-grave (or better cradle-to-cradle) mode. They should be required to take back their product at the place of purchase, and required to have a deposit on the product to incentivize returns.
Protecting the commons? Government control? Corporate responsibility? Consumer responsibility? However you view it, the system clearly should work better to keep toxic pollutants out of the waste stream.
On to LED bulbs...
Posted by: Mark B | 2007-05-22 6:56:58 AM
Statist socialism's greatest feat is getting government acceptance of policies which require us to heal a collective wound by cutting our own toes off. The CFL toxicity issue is a prime example of knee-jerk statist thinking.
I love how Harper has taken to this like a duck to water.
No wonder westerners think he's a political whore.
Posted by: WL Mackenzie Redux | 2007-05-22 9:48:12 AM
You think Preston might be ready to lead Alberta out of Confederation? Or has he succumbed of late to the notion that Canada is worth saving?
Posted by: obc | 2007-05-22 9:54:15 AM
Mark B, please provide us with just one true and real example of when government fixed a problem outside of its domain. Stating that the "system should work better to keep toxic pollutant out of the waste stream" is based on the idea that it is up to a few to control everyone else. There is not one person with enough knowledge and wisdom to be able to decide what is right or best for the other 99% of the population.
The most effective way to improve, assuming improvement is needed, is individual responsibility and a free market economy. When there is a consumer demand, the market will provide.
Posted by: Alain | 2007-05-22 9:57:13 AM
I just bought a couple of cases of 60 watt incandescent bulbs and will buy more until I have enough to last rest of my life. I figure about 4 cases of 60s, One case of 100s and one case of 40s plus maybe a half dozen tri-lights. (one case = 48 bulbs). Screw the ban, those people are insane. The bigger fish to fry are whale sized and they have us pissing around with light bulbs.
Harper is a political whore and has destroyed my faith in his part. There is no one to vote for, so my wife and I will not waste our time on election days but will become objective observers only.
Bush has been a big disappointment too.
I fear there will be civil war in the USA within a few years. The amnesty thing will be one of the major catalysts. Dealing with the Muslim Jihad will be another.
Canada will die economically if that happens.
Posted by: Yanni | 2007-05-22 10:03:23 AM
There's mercury in watch batteries too, and yet there's no outrage. Find something legitimate to bitch about.
Posted by: observer | 2007-05-22 10:16:58 AM
observer: And what is your point? See any watches break, spilling their mercury all over the place? I do believe the possibility of the light bulbs breaking is more likely.
Posted by: Markalta | 2007-05-22 10:37:55 AM
Most large retailers (for example, Ikea) either offer cfl recycling or plan to. And if you're worried about breakage you can get cfl's with plastic housings that would catch & contain any broken tube components (in addition to mimicking the look & feel of a traditional bulb). Compare that with the fate of most compact batteries which wind up in our landfills, seeping into the ground.
My point is that mercury is hardly making it's debut on the household stage with the compact fluorescent light-bulb. It's in dozens of places in your home and in your garage already. Switches. Paints. Sensors. Thermostats. Barometers. Clothes irons. On & on. Like every other toxic substance it'll require some personal responsibility. I'm guessing you're mindful of how that paint thinner in the garage is stored, or how you dispose of old rechargeable batteries and expired medicine too. Just be careful with your cfl bulbs, or if they scare you that much, use more durable LED bulbs.
Posted by: observer | 2007-05-22 11:08:28 AM
Yeah - and when your little kid breaks one and starts playing with the mercury, just wash it off with soap and water. THAT'S THE TICKET! (sarcasm)
Posted by: obc | 2007-05-22 11:14:14 AM
Yeah - and when your little kid breaks one and starts playing with the mercury, just wash it off with soap and water. THAT'S THE TICKET! (sarcasm)
Posted by: obc | 2007-05-22 11:14:44 AM
The issue remains that this is an area that government should stay out of. The pro-big brother control group try to side track the issue as usual.
I cannot repeat often enough that governments do not and cannot fix problems, but they aggravate the problem by trying to do so.
Posted by: Alain | 2007-05-22 11:36:36 AM
On the plus side, you guys are all starting to sound a little like David Suzuki. It's refreshing.
http://www.davidsuzuki.org/health/
Posted by: observer | 2007-05-22 11:40:11 AM
Hardly! We're just throwing Suzuki's crap in your face to see how you react.
Posted by: obc | 2007-05-22 11:45:40 AM
Droppable CFLs. "Sparasm" by Ikea, features a strong plastic casing. The link goes to their standard bulb shaped model, but they come in several form factors and socket threadings.
http://www.ikea.com/webapp/wcs/stores/servlet/ProductDisplay?topcategoryId=15579&catalogId=10103&storeId=3&productId=89063&langId=-15&categoryId=16294&chosenPartNumber=50060609
Posted by: observer | 2007-05-22 11:47:19 AM
Who cares? Just stock up on incandescent bulbs to avoid this whole mess. Then, once Globull Warming is proven to be the hoax that it is, we can all turn on the lights, have a drink and a belly laugh at the expense of all these foolish doom and gloomers.
Meantime, I'm burning lotsa fossil fuels on my cross-continent excursion until September, enlarging my carbon footprint as much as I can.
Posted by: obc | 2007-05-22 12:42:03 PM
BREAKING NEWS ! ! !
"UN official says he understands Canadian position on Kyoto"
http://www.canada.com/topics/news/politics/story.html?id=00e7a770-5b1c-4e51-bbae-6fcda4fdf381&k=99793
Hmmm.
Posted by: obc | 2007-05-22 7:05:32 PM
ROFL I think I will just have me a sparasm from IKEA!
Nah, on second thought, those fancy curly bulbs cost too much. I'm back to the old style.
Oh and btw, I did drop one, it broke releasing weird gray powder which I wiped up, wondering what the heck it was.
so my excuse to those who get all sweaty and nervous at the thought of me using my old light bulbs again
I can't help it! The mercury poisoned my brain already. I'm having old fashioned spasms, not new fangled IKEA Sparasms!
Posted by: canadian freedoms fan | 2007-05-23 11:54:13 PM
They put this garbage on the market, screaming of Globull Warming without checking to see if there is any downside to these bulbs. Well, THERE IS!!!
"Low-energy light bulbs 'can trigger epilepsy'"
http://www.thisislondon.co.uk/news/article-23401786-details/Low-energy+light+bulbs+%27can+trigger+epilepsy%27/article.do
Posted by: obc | 2007-06-24 8:56:47 PM
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