Why fluorescent light bulbs are bad

The U. Environmental Protection Agency estimates that three per cent of the total mercury in discarded fluorescent lamps is released to the atmosphere when they break during transportation to a disposal facility.

Other researchers estimate emissions are as high as 17 per cent. If a fluorescent bulb ends up in a landfill, the mercury can leech into the surrounding soil or be released into the atmosphere. If it is incinerated, the amount of mercury released into the atmosphere may be higher, according to Health Canada. While fluorescent bulbs contain about five milligrams of mercury — less than in a watch battery, according to Natural Resources Canada — Health Canada recommends that items containing mercury be treated as hazardous waste.

In Canada, the provinces are responsible for setting regulations around the disposal of household hazardous waste, but municipalities most often carry out the actual disposal. Disposal programs vary from municipality to municipality, with some offering collection programs specifically for mercury-containing products, such as fluorescent bulbs, in which the mercury is captured and recycled.

Other municipalities collect mercury-containing products as part of their general household hazardous waste program. Not surprisingly, the Federation of Canadian Municipalities has said it would like manufacturers of fluorescent bulbs to assume the cost and responsibility for recycling them. But new research suggests there may be a way to avoid the problem of mercury disposal altogether.

Among major retailers of fluorescents, IKEA offers to take back compact fluorescent bulbs in its stores free of charge. But on the other hand, we also don't see huge risks from them going into landfills, either. John Matson is a former reporter and editor for Scientific American who has written extensively about astronomy and physics.

Follow John Matson on Twitter. Already a subscriber? Sign in. Thanks for reading Scientific American. Create your free account or Sign in to continue. See Subscription Options. Go Paperless with Digital. Read more from this special report: How to Green Your Office. Get smart. Sign up for our email newsletter. Sign Up. The poor indoor air quality often also contributes to headaches, and in many cases is the actual trigger which sets off the migraine. Fluorescent light filters are inexpensive and easy to install and can significantly lessen the impact of fluorescent lights on those who suffer from the headaches which they may cause.

Further research has also suggested the opposite—some people report that working under fluorescent lights makes their eyes feel tired and their entire body feel less alert than those who see sunlight during the day.

In some cases, this actually can make it easier to fall asleep, regardless of the blue light exposure. Do you need a light fixture repaired or want to replace your fluorescent lights with energy-saving LED technology?