On Wed, 08 Sep 2010 21:24:16 +0100, Andy Burns
wrote:

The Natural Philosopher wrote:

Plus there is mercury in them.

Isn't it true that the mercury *in* the CFL is less than the mercury
release by burning the additional coal that would be required if an
incandescent lamp were used instead?

I've heard that said. But in the one instance it goes up the
smokestack at Drax 25 miles away and 850 feet high to be carried away
by the stratosphere, and in the other the mercury is in a glass
envelope above the worktops on my kitchen ceiling.

Derek