Totally embarrassing posting a link to 'popsci', but needs must (I
couldn't find the story elsewhere):

"Compact fluorescent light bulbs solve one problem, but present another:
Although the bulbs are longer-lasting and more energy efficient than
incandescent bulbs, CFLs contain mercury, a neurotoxin. If a bulb breaks
or isnt recycled properly, the mercury can be released into the
environment.

But researchers at Brown University are working to solve that problem
with the creation of a new selenium-based material that can absorb
mercury spills. The team tested several different materials for
absorbing mercury, including selenium, zinc and carbon. Selenium seemed
promising, but the team hypothesized that a protein stabilizer in its
nano-structure might be blocking mercury absorption. The protein
stabilizer was removed, which created an un-stabilized nano-selenium.
According to the research, in a confined space, 10 mg of nano-selenium
can absorb 99 percent of mercury vapor contained in a CFL within 24 hours.

Although the research may provide a solution for cleaning up large
mercury spills, it may also provide a simple solution to keeping mercury
from fluorescent bulbs out of the environment. About 700 million light
bulbs containing mercury are discarded every year, with only 24 percent
being recycled, according to the Association of Lighting and Mercury
Recyclers. Although people are encouraged to keep CFLs out of the waste
stream, few states have a curbside recycling service for the bulbs, so
disposal requires taking the bulbs to a designated recycling site.

However, if recycle boxes or disposal bags lined with nano-selenium can
be produced, then people can simply put a broken or burned out bulb into
the box or bag, and be done with it. Wouldnt that be great?"

http://www.popsci.com/go-green/article/2008-07/cfl-disposal-its-bag

So now all we need a

o A 'free bag with every CFL' scheme;

o A mechanism for putting a just-about-to-break CFL into the bag -
perhaps snatching it out of the air a few cm above the concrete floor?;

o Press releases "Nano-selenium is perfectly safe when handled sensibly.";

o Warning notices 'This bag/box/bin contains mercury-contaminated
nano-selenium. Do not touch. Wash hands after contact.';

o A sensible means of disposing of bags containing nano-selenium - as
well as the usual mercury, various phosphors, electronic components,
glass, plastic...

Ah, progress... :-)

--
Rod

Hypothyroidism is a seriously debilitating condition with an insidious
onset.
Although common it frequently goes undiagnosed.
www.thyromind.info www.thyroiduk.org www.altsupportthyroid.org