Lightbulbs a Health Hazard?
Okay, pardon my language but WTF??
I just read something I thought EVERYONE would be totally interested in knowing. 
So, I’m pre-empting today’s usual post to share this IMPORTANT information.
My jaw dropped when I read just HOW dangerous to our health these new compact fluorescent bulbs are.
Read this article, I implore you. And read it ALL. The ending will also surprise you.
I seriously had NO idea these things were THAT risky.
For your own safety, give this a thorough read:
**If you can’t read it on this page, feel free to right click/save it to your desktop and blow it up in your photoviewer so it’s big enough to read.
Why the HELL are our governments doing this to us? Have they lost their collective MINDS?
And BESIDES all the ‘light-emitting’ dangers… how about keeping all that ‘mercury and enviro-hazards’ stuff in mind next time you break a light-bulb? EEK!
I mean really… even if the environment is ALL we’re worried about, which is worse?
Landfills full of mercury? Or using a little more electricity?
Personally, I’d rather use a little more electricity and stay safer.
How about you?
Have a fit, fun and fantastic day.
Girlwithnoname
12554
April 15th, 2011 at 5:53 pm
Hi Jackie,
Thought I’d take a second and tell you about an experience I had with one of these energy saving compact fluorescent bulbs. The same design type shown in the newspaper clipping above. One thing I noticed is they would not stay screwed in tight in some of my lamps and light fixtures. The only thing I could see that might cause this is some of the sockets the bulbs screwed into were a different metal than the base of the bulb. I figured they may expand and contract at a different rate from the heat while turned on/off causing them to slowly loosen in the socket.
I mention this because tightening light bulbs had become normal to correct a flickering bulb or one that wasn’t working at all. Usually the bulb was just loose and with a gentle twist the bulb was fine.
With a conventional incandescent bulb I would just grab the glass bulb but it doesn’t feel like twisting on these coiled tubes is safe. I would take hold of the plastic base to tighten the bulb. So while screwing in or tightening these new bulbs the coiled glass tubes aren’t really covered by your hand you are reaching to the side to grab the base.
Ok, that sets the stage. Not uncommon for the fluorescent bulb to loosen in the socket, gentle twist and they would work again, hand to the side of coiled tubes grasping the base rather than cupping a bulb.
One of these energy saving fluorescent bulbs had stopped working. I took hold of the base and gave it a gentle twist thinking it was just loose but it only moved about an eight of an inch. At the very tip of the bulb where the tube has a slight bend and heads back into the coil the tube got super bright. Then, in an instant, exploded with force and a loud pop, right in my face. Some of the glass actually stuck into my face. Luckily the cuts were minor and none of the glass went into my eyes. Nobody wants glass in their face, especially mercury coated glass.
Now I don’t trust them and make sure I use my other hand as a shield when messing with one of these. I’m not sure how common this is but something to think about the next time you have to service an energy saving compact fluorescent bulb. I hope this doesn’t happen to anyone reading this but a least you will be aware these bulbs can and do explode.
April 15th, 2011 at 9:49 pm
Wow!! Holy Moly John!! That’s just the kinda stuff that’s freaking me out right about now. THANKS FOR SHARING!!
xo
J
April 18th, 2011 at 5:51 pm
thanks for printing that article. been in the process of changing all my lightbuls because I thought it was the “correct” thing to do. Even though, those corkscrews felt odd to put in. I think I’ll pass on swapping it all out now. Also thanks to John for sharing his tips, for if and when I do choose to change one again.
April 18th, 2011 at 6:47 pm
yah, it’s scary stuff eh Hyo? Glad it enLIGHTened you! LOL
April 21st, 2011 at 2:35 pm
Ok, so you shouldn’t use CFL bulbs daily at less than 30 centimeters proximity for >3 hours at a time (who does this anyway..) especially if you are UV sensitive (who would buy these bulbs if they were?).
So I guess the real thing here is there’s mercury in it.
Feels like you’re overreacting abit, just my 2 cents.
April 21st, 2011 at 3:19 pm
HAHA, I don’t think I’m over-reacting at all. If you read the whole article you’ll see that the gov’ts are TAKING AWAY our choice soon. We’ll be FORCED to use these bulbs, so yah, if you’re UV sensitive, TOUGH BEANS. You’re stuck with them anyway.
And I don’t like the whole ‘what if you break one, its got mercury in it’ thing… human error dictates that of course people ARE going to break them occassionally and expose themselves to mercury. Personally I’d like the choice of NOT exposing myself to mercury.
Plus, the stupid things don’t give off enough light. I feel blind during the dark winter months with only those pathetic things lighting my place.