Environmentalists have been making a huge impact on the way we look at simple things like household lighting. Until very recently, many of us werent aware of the fact that many ordinary light bulbs contained dangerous heavy metals or poisonous gasses. And if we were aware, it wasnt made clear just how lethal those substances really are. These same environmentalists are urging consumers to do their part for the delicate ecological balance by using LED lighting throughout the home, office, and even in vehicles and portable devices. It appears as though they feel LEDs are the safest source of artificial light.
Do LED lights Contain Mercury or Dangerous Gasses?
LED lights do not contain even the slightest trace of mercury, which makes them the safest alternative when it comes to lighting an office or home. Other forms of light bulbs, such as the currently trendy CFL bulbs, contain mercury as well as a number of other toxic chemicals that emit vapors into the environment, making them very dangerous for personal or commercial use. Some of the following light bulbs do contain mercury, and special care should be taken when handling them.
Dangers of Mercury Content in CFL Bulbs
CFL bulbs (Compact Fluorescent Bulbs) contain significant levels of mercury which is a neurotoxin that is very dangerous to human beings. It is even more dangerous to children and pregnant women as it poses a relatively high risk of birth defects should exposure occur. Most people are clueless to this hazard, and that is one of things that make it the most dangerous. If people do not know that they have light bulbs full of potentially damaging chemicals, they arent going to be cautious about disposing of them. In many cases there are warnings placed on the box, but sometimes labels can be disregarded.
Fluorescent Bulbs
In addition to the CFL bulbs mentioned above, the tubular fluorescent lights that people have seen in commercial buildings such as offices, churches, factories, and many other types of businesses, also contain mercury. This is not a new problem as scientists have known about it for years. This is why businesses are generally more selective about disposal, most of the time. Not everyone is as responsible as they should be when it comes to handling toxic chemicals, especially if it will not directly affect them in the immediate future.
Neon Bulbs and Mercury
Almost everyone has seen cool neon lights either in tubes or in standard bulbs but most people are unaware that they contain mercury. It hasnt been until recent years that the concern for mercury has grown in the general public. With the advent of the internet, this is considered the age of information, and everyday new facts are being released, causing people to begin questioning things they had never even thought of before.
Proper Disposal of Mercury Containing Light Bulbs
The biggest problem with CFL bulbs and other mercury containing bulbs seems to be proper disposal. If a light bulb that contains mercury should break, the mercury can seep into the water supply or soil rather easily if they are not disposed of properly. The trouble is that most states do not have any regulatory statutes in place regarding the correct method of disposal for these bulbs. Essentially this means that these bulbs are being place in regular trash containers.
The reason why it is so important to ask, Do LED lights contain mercury? is because this is such a huge problem to both humans and the environment at large. Without regulation, mercury-containing bulbs will be hauled off with the regular trash, thereby creating the possibility that one of the sanitation workers will be exposed to the mercury, or perhaps over time, the landfill itself will become contaminated. Do LED lights contain mercury? No, that is why they are the safest and most environmentally sound light bulbs for use in either the home or office.
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