"A quick calculation shows that the 5 mg of mercury in an energy-conserving CFL is enough to fill an average size room (100 cubic meters volume) with the 0.05 mg/cubic meter vapor concentration that is considered hazardous for long term chronic exposure. Since this is the rule for laboratories, it probably does not account for people who might be especially sensitive, including infants, small children and pregnant women. As with allergies, different people can have vastly different responses to exposures to toxins.
The admonition to open the window for 15 minutes after a CFL break does not account for the various sizes / shapes of rooms, placement of windows (or absence thereof) and whether there is adequate cross-ventilation. And of course, it is not so convenient to ventilate a room thoroughly with outdoor air during the dead of winter in a northern clime."
Mercury is a useful element that happens to be harmful to humans. Compact Fluorescent Lights (CFLs) are made overseas and contain mercury. I have seen both of these facts cited recently as reasons to avoid using them. I disagree - CFLs emit good light and much less heat while using less energy and lasting a very long time. If those attributes are useful to you, then try some.
If you're worried about mercury, you could avoid breaking them and save used ones for your local hazardous waste collection, or get LED bulbs instead.
The desire to limit energy consumption doesn't always have to be linked to social causes - sometimes, it is just a matter of saving money.
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