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Should I worry about the mercury in fluorescent light bulbs?
by Eric Corey Freed, 07/22/07Eric Corey Freed, principal of organicARCHITECT, teaches sustainable design at the Academy of Art University in San Francisco and the University of California, Berkeley. He is the author of Green Building & Remodeling for Dummies (John Wiley & Sons).
Question: I know that fluorescent lights are more energy efficient than standard light bulbs, but I’ve heard that they have mercury in them. Are they still a better choice for the environment?
– Craig Dunlappe, Albany, CA
Answer: CFLs (compact fluorescent lamps) contain a small quantity of mercury—usually about 4 to 5 milligrams. But the more important fact to remember is that choosing fluorescents over standard incandescent bulbs will reduce the amount of mercury pumped into the air by coal-fired power plants. Over the same time period, using an incandescent bulb will result in 10 milligrams of mercury air pollution versus just 2.4 milligrams for a CFL.
Although there’s only a little bit of mercury in each CFL, you should never throw a fluorescent light bulb in the trash. When CFLs wind up in a landfill, they can contaminate groundwater. Mercury is toxic even in very small amounts, and it builds up in the food chain.
To find a mercury recycler or disposal facility near you, call 1-800-CLEAN-UP, an automated hotline, or visit earth911.org and use the "Find a Recycling Center" search bar at the top of the page.
If you are concerned about the amount of mercury in the CFLs in your home, I recommend using Philips Marathon bulbs. Philips has pioneered a technology that reduces the mercury content of fluorescent lights. Other brands of low-mercury CFLs will be on the market soon.
For more information:
Energy Star’s FAQ on CFLs and mercury
The EPA’s fact sheet on mercury in CFLs
EnviroZine's Q&A on CFLs and mercury
Inform, Inc.'s fact sheet on mercury in fluorescent lamps
North Carolina Department of Environment and Natural Resources’ roundup of facts on mercury in CFLs
GreenHomeGuide's Ask A Pro archive has answers to dozens of other green home questions from our network of the best and brightest green architects, designers, contractors and consultants across the U.S.