In recent times, a
certain picture went viral on social media showing a man’s feet that was
severely infected because of a cut from a broken energy-saving bulb.
The
caption stated that mercury contained in the bulb was responsible for the
decayed, unhealing wound. Some came out to say that once an energy-saving bulb
breaks, the mercury is released to the atmosphere and can cause severe
repercussions when inhaled. Others posited that the fact that these bulbs
contain mercury means their use, whether broken or otherwise, is
dangerous. Generally, there have been controversies surrounding the use
of energy-saving bulbs with it being linked to health problems ranging from
headaches and mercury poisoning to cancer.
When
the electric incandescent light bulbs, commonly known in this part of the world
as “yellow bulb”, or “ordinary bulb” because of the common yellowish
colour of the light rays from the bulbs, hit our market, it came to become one
of the everyday conveniences that most affected our lives. Practically every
home and public place had these bulbs which boasted of a wide range of light
output and voltage ratings, spanning 1.5 volts to about 300 volts. They were
low cost and could easily be incorporated into electrical systems.
However
with time, they became a source of environmental concern. Researchers
discovered that they are not energy efficient as only about five per cent of
total energy used by an incandescent bulb is converted to light energy, while
the remaining 95 per cent is converted to heat energy meaning waste of energy.
Principal EHS and Pollution Consultant, Gimet Safety Inc, Mr Temiloluwa
Gbarada, adds that “incandescent bulbs consume huge amount of electricity and
emit green house gases which have been implicated in global climate change.” As
a result, countries across the globe, including Nigeria, began the phasing out
of these bulbs and introduced Compact Fluorescent Light bulbs (CFLs) commonly
called energy-saving bulbs.
Energy-saving
bulbs were said to have about 9000 hours lifespan or more while incandescent
lamps were said to have about 1000 hours. In fact, it was estimated that the
change from the conventional incandescent light bulbs, to the energy saving
fluorescent bulbs would result in a reduction of 376kw/hr of electricity during
the lifetime of each bulb, and a 75 per cent decrease in the emission of
greenhouse gases. According to Dr Best Ordinioha of the Department of
Preventive and Social Medicine, Faculty of Clinical Sciences College of Health
Sciences, University of Port Harcourt, Rivers State, “the use of the energy
saving bulbs are promoted, especially in Nigeria, as one of the ways of solving
the country’s energy deficit, as the electricity consumed by the usual 60 watts
incandescent bulb is enough to light up at least four energy saving bulbs of
the same illumination. They are also efficient and have the capacity to reduce
the emission of greenhouse gases.” So, it became a global campaign for the use
of CFLs.
However,
with the rising controversies surrounding its use, researchers have been
saddled with the responsibility of providing clarifications. In a study
entitled “The Effects of UV Emission from CFL Exposure on Human Dermal
Fibroblasts and Keratinocytes in Vitro,” published in the June 2012 issue of
the Journal of Photochemistry and Photobiology, the researchers, led by Miriam
Rafailovich, Professor of Materials Science and Engineering and the Director of
the Garcia Center for Polymers at Engineered Interfaces at Stony Brook
University, USA, collected CFLs purchased from different locations, and then
measured the amount of Ultra Violet (UV) emissions. The results revealed
significant levels of UVC and UVA, which appeared to originate from cracks in
the phosphor coatings, present in all CFL bulbs studied. The team took
the same bulbs and studied the effects of exposure on healthy human skin tissue
cells. The findings showed that “the response of healthy skin cells to UV
emitted from CFL bulbs is consistent with damage from ultraviolet radiation.”
Experts say UV radiation could initiate cell death and cause skin cancer in its
deadliest form.
However,
professor of Radiation and Health Physics and Dean, Faculty of Science,
University of Ibadan, Professor Idowu Farai, states that though CFLs produce UV
radiation, they don’t produce at hazardous amounts and in fact, produce at less
than the amount produced by natural sunlight. “Radiations that can be injurious
to health are in those in the category of ionising radiation such as x-rays and
gamma rays from radioactive materials. The energy in this radiation is so high
that they can disrupt cell functions when the body becomes overwhelmed by
exposure. Radiation from CFLs poses no health effect because it is in the class
of non-ionising radiation. In fact, there is no amount of radiation from these
bulbs that can compare with what the sun emits. Radiation from CFLs while in
use is completely harmless. Radiation from CFLs also doesn’t cause cancer.
Where the risk of cancer may lie is in the accumulation of mercury in the soil
and consequently food chain when CFLs are improperly disposed of.”
Mr
Gbarada says, “The phosphor coating inside the glass (which makes the glass of
the bulb appear milky white in colour) is meant to trap the UV light emitted.
However, research has shown that at a distance of 11 inches and more from the
CFL bulbs, there is very low risk of problems arising from UV radiation.”
As for the viral picture alleging the danger of broken CFLs because of their
mercury content, Mr Gbarada says “I disagree with the fact that the
amount of mercury contained in one CFL bulb poses grave danger to home
inhabitants. CFLs do not emit mercury as they operate. The mercury in these
bulbs is only released if the bulb is broken. However, if proper clean up
procedures are followed, there is no cause for alarm.”
Regarding
alleged complications from wounds inflicted by CFLs, Dr Farai says, “any broken
piece of glass that pierces the flesh exposes the skin to infections. It is
very unlikely that the decay of the wound was caused by mercury. It’s most
likely a result of the wound not properly cared for. Mercury, by itself, does
not cause infections.”
Though
these bulbs indeed contain mercury, experts say where concern about its mercury
content should lie is in how the bulbs are disposed. The call for proper
disposal of energy saving bulbs comes to light in the face of environmental
pollution which could inadvertently affect one’s health. Dr Ordinioha says,
“Burnout and broken light bulbs are commonly disposed in the various unofficial
dumpsites in Nigeria where they can easily contaminate ground water. The
disposal of the bulbs in the riverine communities of Nigeria is into the
surface water bodies that often serve as a source of drinking water to members
of the communities. This exposes members of these communities to mercury and
provides the opportunity for the bio-accumulation of mercury in fish and other
aquatic organisms in the surface water. Fish and shell fish are known to
bio-accumulate mercury to several times the concentration of the water in which
they live, and is often enough to cause widespread poisoning.”
According
to Mr Gbarada, “You cannot just sweep a CFL bulb with broom and vacuum cleaner,
you may contaminate the environment. Care should also be taken during disposal
of CFL bulbs; they should not be disposed with normal waste. If CFL bulbs are
destroyed like normal waste in dump sites, there is a risk of accumulation of
mercury in dump sites over a long period of time, this can sip into ground
water and may eventually be taken up by plant from soil. Accumulation of
mercury over time may pose significant danger to health.” Mercury is a
neuro-toxin, but damages have also been reported in the kidney, skin and the
cardiovascular system. Blood levels of mercury in foetuses have been associated
with small decrease in IQ in low exposures and delayed developmental
milestones, brain damage with mental retardation, in-coordination, and
inability to move, in higher exposures.
Professor
Farai adds that “waste has to be properly managed to protect the environment.
The problem with CFLs arises when they are not properly disposed of. There
should be a formal way of managing and disposing wastes else we would overburden
our environment.”
Experts
say consumers should exercise caution regarding where and how they install CFLs
in their homes; they should avoid putting them in lamps likely to be sent
crashing to the floor by someone knocking them from a side table or tripping
over electrical cords. They also call for proper recycling procedure which
should be developed by the Nigerian government or adapted from used procedures
in advanced nations.
In
spite of the potential dangers associated with CFLs, the good news is that CFLs
are not the only energy-efficient bulbs out there. There are also
light-emitting diodes (LEDs), which are mercury-free.
Reference:
tribuneonlineng
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