Although the province is phasing out incandescent bulbs for their more efficient counterparts, one local man is concerned the new standards will force residents to buy compact fluorescent lights (CFL), laden with toxic mercury vapor.
“They are probably the most extremely dangerous thing that consumers can get at the moment,” said Parksville resident John St. John. “It’s totally amazing. You can’t take a pair of nail clippers on a plane but you can have those in your house.”
New energy efficient lighting standards in B.C. came into effect Jan. 1, 2011 mandating retailers can only carry the old incandescent 75 and 100 watt bulbs until their stock runs out.
Federal regulations will phase-in efficient bulbs in Canada in 2012, removing the old standard incandescent lamps rated at 40 to 100 watts from the market.
Mercury is the only existing element that produces the UV wavelengths needed to make CFLs work, according to Health Canada.
The average CFL contains about 4 mg of mercury and if broken Health Canada warns to leave the room and ventilate it for at least 15 minutes before cleaning up, ensuring mercury levels are reduced. Vacuums are not to be used as it could spread mercury and contaminate the vacuum. Disposable gloves are to be worn and materials are to be put in a glass container with a tight fitting lift. The waste materials are then to be kept outside of the building and disposed of as a hazardous waste, or taken to a recycling facility that accepts CFLs.
Media relations officer with Health Canada, David Thomas, said leaving the room prior to clean up of a CFL bulb is a precautionary measure that lowers unnecessary exposure to the mercury vapor.
“The health risk for adults due to CFL breakage is unlikely, and the risk for children through inhalation of CFL mercury is also expected to be negligible,” he stated in an e-mail. “As with other forms of chemical agents, precautions should be taken.”
St. John claims the risks are much greater than the government claims. When a bulb breaks, he said, its vapours escape and can be inhaled and absorbed through the skin. Mercury is a known neurotoxin, St. John said, and elevated blood mercury levels may lead to retardation and deformities in children. Other problems associated with exposure to mercury are joint pain, migraines, and skin and brain cancer, he said.
Health Canada states on its website there have been individual reports of health effects from the bulbs such as headaches and depression. It states there may be a small amount of people who are more sensitive to CFLs but the majority are not.
Paul Duchesne, media relations manager with Natural Resources Canada, said contrary to popular belief, new federal and provincial standards will not mandate the sole use of CFLs.
“Right now there are several options available to Canadians who wish to use efficient bulbs that meet the future standard. These include halogen infra-red or HIR bulbs (a type of incandescent bulb that is more efficient than the older types), CFLs, and the newest alternative, light emitting diode technology or LED,” he said in an email.
Many more efficient bulbs are also expected on the market soon, he said. Duchesne added that many specialty lamps will also be exempt from the upcoming national standard, including chandelier and coloured bulbs.
St. John is putting on a seminar this Tuesday, Feb.1 outlining his concerns with CFLs as well as the apparent government spraying of toxic chemicals, known as chemtrails. The event is happening at 7 p.m. at the Parksville Community and Conference Centre and although admission is $5, St. John said people can pay what they can.
“Five dollars or whatever you can afford because this is so important I just want people to be there,” he said.
St. John will be showing a film and doing a presentaion, and door prizes will be available to win. For more information e-mail John St. John at jst.john@shaw.ca. or call 250-586-0073.
For more information on CFL’s from Health Canada visit www.hc-sc.gc.ca/hl-vs/iyh-vsv/prod/cfl-afc-eng.php.
