CFL lightbulbs release carcinogens...

[mop]

now this is just a bummer. here we are switching to cfls (and i have been using them for YEARS) and it turns out that they release carcinogenic fumes when turned on. Seems another example of rushing to "save the world" that has resulted in possibly a very bad situation.

For the record, i am hopeful that LED lights will soon be perfected and pave the way to even cheaper forms of lighting and less use of electricity. but this really is a bummer.....

Telegraph reports

 

[Roger]

LED lights are very promising but the price will need to drop to become widely used

 

[mop]

i agree

 

[THEU]

mop,
Didn't I warn you about CFLs?

 

[mop]

yes Theu...you did, but i LOVE the fact that they are efficient. I am sure it drives my philosophical opponents around here crazy, but I love efficiency and get excited about technological breakthroughs that are more environmentally friendly. Oh well, we all knew that LED's held more promise anyways.....

 

[hornpharmd]

In reply to:

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[ShinerChE]

The only component that would contain these compounds would be the glue that attaches the metal part that screws into the socket to the glass bulb. I suspect every type of bulb including LEDs and incandescents uses the same type of glue for this purpose so those emissions are likely not unique to CFLs.

 

[hornpharmd]

Wasn't it small German studies that started the cell phones cause brain tumors controversy?

 

[accuratehorn]

Who is this small German, and why does mop pay so much attention to him when he discounts thousands of reputable climatoligists?
But yes, LED lighting is vastly preferred over any kind of flourescent lighting. Don't know about this supposed problem, maybe it is real, maybe not. It's just one study and hasn't been replicated.

 

[Monahorns]

Just as an aside, US lighting companies are already converting to LED technology very quickly for industrial/large platform lighting. In 3 years, I doubt fluorescent lights will be used in those applications.

Consumer light bulbs will probably take longer because cost expectations are lower. Still, once LED manufacture ramps up for the industrial lights, the economy of scale will help commercialize consumer lighting.

 

[NEWDOC2002]

LED prices have dropped rapidly already but not to the point where "Joe Six Pack" is going to drop $20-30 per bulb. Nice to see they're popping up in more and more places.

 

[Burnt Orange Bevo]

Heck, the mercury vapor alone from compact/fluorescent lights is bad enough.

 

[mcbrett]

At a conference I was at- a panel of LED manufacturers said they expect LED prices at the retail level to dip below $8/bulb for a 60 watt equivalent within 2 years, and below $2, 2 years after that.

Below $10- the payback is about 2 years, so, they're very close to be good enough today if Joe six pack has enough foresight. You can find LEDs on the Home Depot website today in the low 20's..

 

[Roger]

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[mcbrett]

Interesting Roger-

There have been multiple examples however of national chains, such as Starbucks and Chipotle outfitting all of their stores with LEDs. There is no argument here that there is plenty of room for improvement- however I also see plenty of room for optimism. It's a very new technology- and I see it improving very rapidly.

 

[Roger]

McBrett, as you said in your earlier post commercial use such as the retail stores you mentioned will use first as they can 1) buy in extreme bulk and 2) capitalize those costs and then depreciate over the useful life with cashflow not being an issue. I hope they all do as this as you originally stated will help to bring the cost way down. The technology is there, you just have to be a smart consumer and do your research. I'm actually gun shy on buying light bulbs that aren't name brand.

 

[Roger]

one other thing that is wrong with LED bulbs is similar to what is wrong with CFL, they aren't interchangeable. If you have a room that needs multiple bulbs you almost have to replace them all at one time as some are white, others are yellow, and others are almost a blue (think xenon lights on your car), thus if you don't buy the same bulb it can become noticeable.

 

[Perham1]

The linked article was essentially worthless.

How much of the dangerous substances are emitted? What are safe levels of those substances?

The public is horrible at assessing risk. Articles like this don't help matters any.

 

[bub]

Yeah. Whatever. They cheapen my electric bill.

Don't break them and huff the fumes.

Stupid.