Energy saving light bulbs deemed dangerous

A rather sensationalistic story has surfaced in the Daily Mail, noting the little known dangers associated with new, energy-efficient light bulbs. Apparently their chemical composition is such that they pose a very real threat of poisoning when broken, or disposed of improperly.

From the article:

"Energy-saving light bulbs are so dangerous that everyone must leave the room for at least 15 minutes if one falls to the floor and breaks, a Government department warned yesterday.

The startling alert came as health experts also warned that toxic mercury inside the bulbs can aggravate a range of problems including migraines and dizziness.

And a leading dermatologist said tens of thousands of people with skin complaints will find it hard to tolerate being near the bulbs as they cause conditions such as eczema to flare up.

The Department for Environment warned shards of glass from broken bulbs should not be vacuumed up but instead swept away by someone wearing rubber gloves to protect them from the bulb's mercury content.

In addition, it said care should be taken not to inhale any dust and the broken pieces should be put in a sealed plastic bag for disposal at a council dump – not a normal household bin.

None of this advice, however, is printed on the packaging the new-style bulbs are sold in. There are also worries over how the bulbs will be disposed of. "

Perhaps the worst part of the warning is the fact that merely being in proximity of an unbroken, working bulb can apparently aggravate symptoms of 'migraines and dizziness'. Not exactly what people are looking for in their light sources.

Now, I'm not advocating a wholesale move back to conventional lightbulbs - the energy savings of this new breed are certainly considerable and will be valuable both individually and environmentally in the long term - but surely the manufacturers of these new bulbs can do so without endangering the public in such an obvious way?