The Media Attempts to Dim the CFL

CBS Atlanta ran the following news story on March 01:

Consumers Forced to Buy Dangerous Light Bulbs End Of Incandescent Bulbs Forcing Consumers To Buy Bulbs With Mercury

Recent regulations will make incandescent light bulbs a part of our history and replace the standard household light bulb with Compact Fluorescent Light (CFL) bulbs.  Due to the mercury content in the CFL bulbs, CBS Atlanta reporter Adam Murphy attempts to sensationalize the danger of the minuscule amount of mercury.


Chuck Boelkins, industrial ecologist with the Sustainability Division of the GA Department of Natural Resources, came to the rescue with practical advice when a CFL is broken:  1> get children out of the room 2> open windows to air out the area 3> turn off the heating/air conditioning system 4> do NOT use a vacuum cleaner, instead sweep up with a broom and dispose of the broken bulb in a sealed plastic bag.


With CFL bulbs 75% more energy efficient and lasting longer, the facts stated in the report include it takes the mercury in 100 CFL bulbs to equal the mercury in one fever thermometer. 


Consumer Margaret Brackett sums up the scenario with simple truth, "It's one of those things we're just aware of and it's just a small caution when there's such a great benefit," 


There is one sad death that comes along with the farewell to the incandescent light bulb:  Good-bye to the Easy-Bake Oven, in its current incarnation.  Let's hope Hasbro research & development scientists are well on their way to introducing an Easy-Bake Oven for the young bakers growing up in the new CFL bulb world..