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Low energy light bulbs are actually damaging the environment because thousands of the bulbs are being dumped in the bin rather than recycled.

Stanford Chiwanga

AFRICA, Zimbabwe included, in an effort to save the little energy it has, has embraced the use of low energy light bulbs without heeding the warnings that the chemicals contained in the bulbs are dangerous and must be recycled to prevent them contaminating the environment.

Zimbabwe has already started phasing out the traditional bulbs known as incandescent light bulbs and is in the process of making all traditional bulbs illegal.

While doing so, Zimbabwe and Africa have ignored complaints against the so called eco bulbs – one of the complaints is that they are actually damaging the environment because thousands of the bulbs are being dumped in the bin rather than recycled.

What is wrong with that? You may ask. The wrong is that they contain mercury which has the potential of leaking into landfills, polluting the environment in the process. It is ironic that people buy these bulbs to help the environment, because the bulbs emit mercury vapour when they break. They are so toxic that we not supposed to put them in the regular garbage. They are household hazardous waste. If you break one in a house, you are supposed to open all of your windows and doors, and evacuate the house for at least 15 minutes to minimize your exposure to the poisonous gas.

These bulbs are so toxic that we not supposed to put them in the regular garbage. They are household hazardous waste.

But what is mercury?

Mercury is a heavy, silvery transition metal most commonly found in thermometers, barometers, and other scientific apparatus. It is used in the electrical industry and in laboratory and medical instruments. Mercury is a known neurotoxin, and elevated blood mercury levels may lead to retardation and deformities in children. Chest pains, dyspnoea, coughing, haemoptysis, and sometimes interstitial pneumonitis leading to death may follow acute inhalation exposure to mercury vapour.

Mercury is a known neurotoxin, and elevated blood mercury levels may lead to retardation and deformities in children

The environmental price we are paying is that each bulb contains around 4mg of mercury, which helps convert the electrical current into light. Although this is barely enough to cover the head of a ballpoint pen, it could be damaging once is escapes into the environment because the heavy metal will build up each time it passes up the food chain. If the lights crack they can also be dangerous to householders or bin men. The boxes already contain warnings to clear a room if a bulb is broken.

From the warnings above it is clear that Africa must make sure that its councils encourage citizens to dispose the bulbs in a way that will minimise environmental harm. However, that is not the case – most people dump the bulbs in the bin.

Although there are no figures for the amount of bulbs going into landfill, millions of bulbs are used every year – this will be bigger problem in the future.

A researcher at the University of Illinois sums up the basic point behind these fluorescent bulbs:

“People need to understand that these bulbs are considered “hazardous” and can cause long term damage to not only the environment, but if broken can cause health problems with people as well. Mercury has the ability to cause humans, as well as animals, serious health problems such as permanent nerve and kidney damage if exposed.”

On average, each GE energy-saving light bulb contains 5 milligrams of mercury. If a bulb breaks, the mercury is released into homes. Spills on carpets release dangerous levels of mercury into the air for weeks every time the area of the spill is disturbed, including vacuuming. Broken and discarded fluorescent bulbs are predicted to release two to four tons of mercury into the environment every year, and in this case, the environment includes living rooms in Africa.

Low energy-saving light bulb also produces UV radiation. The harmful effects of UV light are known to cause skin damage and cataract formation. While the compact fluorescent bulb may not produce as much UV light as the sun, little research exists to evaluate long term risks to skin and eyes.

Besides encouraging the recycling of the low energy bulbs, to limit their contact with the ground, the European Union recommends limiting exposure to compact fluorescent bulbs to no closer than one foot away for an hour a day.

If the EU is cautious about these bulbs, why are we embracing the poison?