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Mercury in flourescents
A while back there was a discussion about whether or not flourescent
lamps contained mercury. One of our list members was told by a
manufacturer that the lamps do not contain mercury. It seems that this
is not correct. See the following press release from Phillips:
http://www.lighting.philips.com/alto.htm
Quoting from the press reolease:
"With these new lamps, homeowners will continue to benefit from the
energy efficiency and long life of fluorescents, but also significantly
reduce the amount of mercury emitted into the environment," said Ed
Crawford, Vice President of Strategic Marketing for Philips Lighting
Company. "As more people embrace this technology, we can help limit the
amount of mercury that could find its way into the ecosystem," added
Crawford.
More than 550 million fluorescent lamps containing mercury are disposed
of each year in the United States.
The introduction of the ALTO Home Light product line brings Philips
another step closer to incorporating ALTO Lamp Technology into 80
percent of its fluorescent products.
Easily identified by their ALTO Green End Caps, the Philips lamps
employ a unique capsule dosing process, combined with a chemical
buffering system. The lamps contain more than 80 percent less mercury
than standard fluorescents, with no loss in lamp performance compared
to
standard fluorescents.* As a result, ALTO lamps are the first
low-mercury fluorescent tubes to pass TCLP at all stages of lamp life.
TCLP is the EPA's test to measure substances dissolved in the
ecosystem.
At this time, mercury cannot be completely removed from fluorescent
lamps without diminishing lamp performance.
end quote.
So it seems that all flourescent lamps use mercury, some more, some
less.
Paul