In article ,
Chris Friesen wrote:

Kurt Ullman wrote:

The other thing is the mercury. While I admit that each one is small,
DOE says 55 millions light bulbs are sold PER day in the US. My
calculator doesn't go high enuff to figure out yearly. If all (or even a
hefty %age are CFL, and they get thrown out into landfills, why will
that not cause problems over the years.

Around here most electricity is produced by coal-fired plants. Burning
coal releases a certain amount of mercury. The reduced electrical
demand from the CFL means that over its lifetime the amount of mercury
saved by using less power outweighs the mercury in the bulb itself.

Thus, a net reduction in the amount of mercury in the environment.

But much more concentrated around landfills. Also, how about the
direct exposures from cleaning up broken ones? Anyone really think
people are going to know to open up windows for awhile before cleaning
up? Know enough not to get the vacuum cleaner out?