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OT: CFL Bulbs

Truhal
Truhal
It finally happened: I broke a bulb. The first time in my life. And it just had to be a CFL bulb.

I'd decided early on not to buy these bulbs. I'll stock pile the regular bulbs or buy LEDs, but no bulbs that will cause me to seal a room just 'cause one broke. Then I moved into a new house, and wouldn't you know it, I'm surrounded by CFLs. Still, I figured I'd be okay because I'd never broken a bulb before, so why should I start now? I figured I would let the thing blow out then replace it with one in my stock pile. It was not to be. Suddenly one of my outlets stopped working, and I removed the bulb and replaced it with a regular bulb. Of course that didn't fix the problem, so I figured I'd hang on to the CFL--a girls gotta save money where she can. So I put it in my pantry and two hours later I went into said pantry, touched something and bam, CFL and it's mercury all over my floor.

I was told to leave the room for ten minutes, shut off the forced air, but of course I forgot. All I remmbered was getting a bag, sweeping it up and sealing the bag. An hour later I was on the computer and found out I'd done it wrong. Now, mercury is flying through my house and I'm wanting to know, why would the government ban the regular bulbs and force us all to buy CFL, a bulb that practically requires a haz team to dispose of it.

Anyhow, long story short, I messed up my back last night, so me and the broken CFL bulb are living together. AT first I was afraid, then I remembered playing with mercury as a child. And here I am about to celebrate my 55th birthday. Oh, well... anyhow, when my back feels better I'm stock piling 100 regular bulbs.
Caroline04
Caroline04
You know, I was totally unaware of that. I just took a few burned out ones to Lowes the other day, not realizing the danger. I know not to throw them in the trash. It is a wonder they are forcing them on us--I just got a notice in the mail recently alerting people not to put them in regular trash--seems a lot of them are making it to the dumps. Now, we know what happens when that occurs. I am sorry that happened to you, but it was nice of you to bring it to our attention! Thanks.
cleodoggie
cleodoggie
Please tell me what is a CFL lightbulb? Are they the curly cue bulbs that last a long time? I have never heard of a CFL lightbulb.
Dreamer40
Dreamer40
Like you, Truhal, when we were kids we'd get hold of a little glob of mercury and play with it for hours or even days, and it didn't affect me...didn't affect me...didn't affect me...didn't affect me! LOL

I don't worry about it. We have a couple in the living room but that's all. I'm sure you'll be celebrating many more decades despite fiddling with the mercury from your bulb!
Truhal
Truhal
Cleodoggie, they're the curly ones. They have mercury in them, so you can't break them in your house or throw them in the trash. Do a search on these horrible bulbs and you will be afraid. This is the last year you will be able to purchase regular bulbs as they're being banned by the government.
deleted_user
deleted_user
The amount of mercury in one bulb is very, very small but it is a gas form. The reason for not throwing them in the landfill is because they think that over time it could become hazardous. CFL means Compact Florescent Light. As kids we also played with the white insulating wraps on the hot water pipes in our schools. They cal it asbestos now. Who new back in the 60's.
Ralph
deleted_user
deleted_user
I asked a handyman about this once, and he said to check the label because not all these new bulbs have mercury in them, or as Ralph said, there's not much in them. So now I look on the label just to make sure. This makes me want to ask the people at Lowes about it, just in case though.
deleted_user
deleted_user
Oh no kidding? I never knew that about those bulbs. I am so sorry the government is banning the old style bulbs because I have used those CFL when I lived overseas and they were so hard to see by and took a long time to lighten up a room. Are they like that in the US too?

I believe in being green - but honestly, sometimes I have to wonder how the government thinks it's ok to clutter up space with their space junk and spend money on killing people in other countries (aka war), or heating the water in our water heaters over and over again (Australia has a good system to combat that) but burning a lightbulb is all of a sudden a major catastrophe. sigh

I
Oluwa
Oluwa
I stock piled on incandescent bulbs a while ago when I heard the US will begin the mandatory fluorescent lighting change in 2012. People with Lupus are very sensitive to fluorescent lights. Literally making us physically sick. From headaches, rashes to being bedridden. I wish they would find a cure.
Truhal
Truhal
I'm going to buy the LED bulbs too. They're 15 dollars, but last about 15 years.
cheerryG
cheerryG
I also don`t want them in my apt. I have glaucoma, and the light they emit can really mess up your eyes! They can cause early macular degeneration, wich is when your eyes get older, they get weaker. When you need readers, then you are getting MD, and it is happening earlier and earlier to people. First thing an eye MD will ask is what are you using. No pennies saved can bring back what you have lost! G-
Dreamer40
Dreamer40
And I wonder, too, I had either read or heard (or both) that you musn't use those "curly" bulbs in an enclosed fixture. What are people supposed to do about that...chuck all their closed fixtures? I have several important ones in this old house and don't plan to get rid of them. *fortunately, I do have a more than ample supply of kerosene lamps and candles...lol*
Truhal
Truhal
I think they're getting away with making us use them because a lot of people don't know we'll have no choice in a few months.
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