We have all heard about the potential health and safety risks of mercury vapor, but do we know exactly where this mercury vapor is coming from?
Today, mercury continues to be used in many products, primarily in fluorescent lamps and compact fluorescent lamps (CFLs) in offices, stores and homes. Because of its high density, it is also used in barometers and manometers. Due to its high rate of thermal expansion—which remains fairly constant over a wide temperature range—mercury is also used extensively in thermometers and thermostats. Mercury-vapor lamps, which emit light rich in ultraviolet radiation, are used for street lighting, in water treatment plants as a disinfectant, and in tanning beds. Mercury is used as an electrode in the production of chlorine and sodium hydroxide and in certain electric batteries. Mercury is important as an electrical contact for switches, and mercury conducts the charge in fluorescent lamps.
Exposure typically comes from inhaling mercury vapors. For most of us, fluorescent lamps present the single greatest risk of mercury exposure in the work place, as these lamps can easily break. Upon breaking, there is an even greater risk in transporting fluorescent lamps and CFLs, as there are no packaging standards and few regulations in place requiring proper packaging for storage and transportation. To protect against mercury vapor exposure from used fluorescent lamps and other mercury-containing devices, these products should be stored and transported in a packaging configuration proven to contain mercury vapor.
Brad Buscher
Chairman and CEO
VaporLok Products LLC
Wednesday, July 27, 2011
Wednesday, July 20, 2011
The Push for CFLs and Fluorescent Lamps
With changing legislation and increased popularity for energy efficiency, the lighting industry has seen a significant push for fluorescent lamps and CFLs. Consumers and businesses alike are changing their lighting options to adopt these sustainable efforts. But, why?
Fluorescent lamps and CFLs are four to six times more efficient than their incandescent counterparts and emit about the same amount of visible light, all while offering longer working life and saving significant energy costs. Further, energy-efficient lighting is one of the lowest-cost ways for the nation to reduce electricity use and greenhouse gases. Although incandescent light bulbs may seem like the cheaper option at the counter, consumers will actually save money on CFLs in the long run. While a CFL may cost about $2.00 per bulb, compared to about $0.50 cents for an incandescent bulb, a CFL is four to six times more efficient than an incandescent and lasts an estimated 8 to 15 times as long as an incandescent.
However, CFLs and fluorescent lamps also contain hazardous mercury vapor, which is emitted when these fragile bulbs break. If not carefully handled and disposed of, mercury vapor can cause significant health and safety issues, as well as environmental concerns. Read more about how to avoid harmful mercury vapor if the bulb breaks or burns out.
Brad Buscher
Chairman and CEO
VaporLok Products LLC
Fluorescent lamps and CFLs are four to six times more efficient than their incandescent counterparts and emit about the same amount of visible light, all while offering longer working life and saving significant energy costs. Further, energy-efficient lighting is one of the lowest-cost ways for the nation to reduce electricity use and greenhouse gases. Although incandescent light bulbs may seem like the cheaper option at the counter, consumers will actually save money on CFLs in the long run. While a CFL may cost about $2.00 per bulb, compared to about $0.50 cents for an incandescent bulb, a CFL is four to six times more efficient than an incandescent and lasts an estimated 8 to 15 times as long as an incandescent.
However, CFLs and fluorescent lamps also contain hazardous mercury vapor, which is emitted when these fragile bulbs break. If not carefully handled and disposed of, mercury vapor can cause significant health and safety issues, as well as environmental concerns. Read more about how to avoid harmful mercury vapor if the bulb breaks or burns out.
Brad Buscher
Chairman and CEO
VaporLok Products LLC
Wednesday, July 13, 2011
Mercury Use in Fluorescent Lamps
Why do fluorescent lamps and CFLs use mercury? We all know by now that the mercury content is dangerous to our own health and the environment; so why use it?
Mercury is an essential component of energy-efficient fluorescent lamps, allowing them to produce light and provide a longer life in comparison to incandescent bulbs. A typical fluorescent lamp is composed of a phosphor coated glass tube with electrodes located at either end. The tube contains mercury, of which only a very small amount is in vapor form. When a voltage is applied, the electrodes energize the mercury vapor, causing it to emit ultraviolet (UV) energy. The phosphor coating absorbs the UV energy, causing the phosphor to fluoresce and emit visible light.
The amount of mercury required is very small, typically measured in milligrams, and varies by lamp type, year of manufacture, manufacturing plant and manufacturer. Although it is a necessary component, mercury from fluorescent lamps still poses significant health and environmental issues, and lamps should be properly stored, transported and recycled in a packaging configuration proven to effectively contain mercury vapor.
Brad Buscher
Chairman and CEO
VaporLok Products LLC
Mercury is an essential component of energy-efficient fluorescent lamps, allowing them to produce light and provide a longer life in comparison to incandescent bulbs. A typical fluorescent lamp is composed of a phosphor coated glass tube with electrodes located at either end. The tube contains mercury, of which only a very small amount is in vapor form. When a voltage is applied, the electrodes energize the mercury vapor, causing it to emit ultraviolet (UV) energy. The phosphor coating absorbs the UV energy, causing the phosphor to fluoresce and emit visible light.
The amount of mercury required is very small, typically measured in milligrams, and varies by lamp type, year of manufacture, manufacturing plant and manufacturer. Although it is a necessary component, mercury from fluorescent lamps still poses significant health and environmental issues, and lamps should be properly stored, transported and recycled in a packaging configuration proven to effectively contain mercury vapor.
Brad Buscher
Chairman and CEO
VaporLok Products LLC
Wednesday, July 6, 2011
Mercury Levels In CFLs: Not As Dangerous as They Used to Be?
According to recent news, mercury levels in CFLs and fluorescent bulbs are decreasing compared to levels in the past. Does this mean that CFLs and fluorescent bulbs no longer present health and safety dangers associated with mercury content? One simple answer: No.
Regardless of the quantity of mercury present in CFLs and fluorescent bulbs, it is still important for consumers to handle, dispose, transport and recycle them properly. Mercury vapor can be detrimental to consumers’ health—from those involved with handling new bulbs to people involved with storing, packaging and shipping used lamps. Mercury vapor, which can be absorbed through the skin or inhaled, can cause neurological damage, and when it gets into water, it can enter the food chain through fish.
While some steps have been taken to encourage safe recycling and disposal of fluorescent lamps, this fact remains: although a variety of containers are marketed for transportation of fluorescent lamps, many don't provide necessary levels of protection against mercury vapor in the occurrence of breakage. Using a proven packaging design with a vapor resistant lining is vital to ensuring the safety of persons who work with or near fluorescent bulbs, as well as for protecting the surrounding environment.
Brad Buscher
Chairman and CEO
VaporLok Products LLC
Regardless of the quantity of mercury present in CFLs and fluorescent bulbs, it is still important for consumers to handle, dispose, transport and recycle them properly. Mercury vapor can be detrimental to consumers’ health—from those involved with handling new bulbs to people involved with storing, packaging and shipping used lamps. Mercury vapor, which can be absorbed through the skin or inhaled, can cause neurological damage, and when it gets into water, it can enter the food chain through fish.
While some steps have been taken to encourage safe recycling and disposal of fluorescent lamps, this fact remains: although a variety of containers are marketed for transportation of fluorescent lamps, many don't provide necessary levels of protection against mercury vapor in the occurrence of breakage. Using a proven packaging design with a vapor resistant lining is vital to ensuring the safety of persons who work with or near fluorescent bulbs, as well as for protecting the surrounding environment.
Brad Buscher
Chairman and CEO
VaporLok Products LLC
Wednesday, June 29, 2011
How Can You Easily Recycle Used Fluorescent Bulbs?
Products containing mercury, including fluorescent lamps, need to be handled and recycled properly to effectively contain and prevent mercury vapor from releasing into the environment. Mercury-containing waste that isn't properly recycled poses a serious environmental and health concern and can be regulated more stringently.
Fluorescent lamps can easily be recycled or disposed if burned out. Available recycling methods include:
Chairman and CEO
VaporLok Products LLC
Fluorescent lamps can easily be recycled or disposed if burned out. Available recycling methods include:
- Use Mercury VaporLok® Bags for safely accumulating spent fluorescent lamps for recycling.
- Waste Management LampTracker®: The prepaid program includes recycling containers, shipping both ways via UPS or FedEx ground, recycling of the wastes and complete online documentation of every container ordered and recycled.
- State Collection Sites: Check with you local and/or state regulators and use Earth911.com to find a drop-off near you. Also note that many National retailers accept spent lamps for recycling.
Chairman and CEO
VaporLok Products LLC
Wednesday, June 22, 2011
The Life of a Recycled Lamp
Once a lamp has been recycled, it is usually sent to a recycling facility via truck, UPS or FedEx® in bulk or in pre-paid shipping recycling boxes. These boxes should be specifically designed to accommodate various sized lamps and effectively contain mercury vapor emitted from broken lamps.
Once received, the recycler crushes the lamps, along with other contaminated products, devices and debris, to safely exhaust the mercury vapor and extract and reuse the resultant mercury—ensuring mercury is not released into the environment. The remaining debris is then placed in 55-gallon drums and sent to a retort facility—where the drums are heated to high temperatures to eliminate any remaining mercury. Any remaining glass and aluminum is furthered recycled and reused.
This process reduces the potential dangers of mercury vapor emitted from used fluorescent lamps—effectively reducing environmental liability and protecting both handlers and consumers from potential safety hazards and health risks.
Brad Buscher
Chairman and CEO
VaporLok Products LLC
Once received, the recycler crushes the lamps, along with other contaminated products, devices and debris, to safely exhaust the mercury vapor and extract and reuse the resultant mercury—ensuring mercury is not released into the environment. The remaining debris is then placed in 55-gallon drums and sent to a retort facility—where the drums are heated to high temperatures to eliminate any remaining mercury. Any remaining glass and aluminum is furthered recycled and reused.
This process reduces the potential dangers of mercury vapor emitted from used fluorescent lamps—effectively reducing environmental liability and protecting both handlers and consumers from potential safety hazards and health risks.
Brad Buscher
Chairman and CEO
VaporLok Products LLC
Wednesday, June 15, 2011
Mercury In the Food Chain
Past studies and articles have shown that there is mercury present in the food chain, causing potential health and safety issues when consumed. How does this happen?
Large amounts of mercury become airborne when coal, oil, wood, or natural gas are burned as fuel or when mercury-containing garbage, including improperly discarded fluorescent lamps, is incinerated. This mercury can fall to the ground with rain and snow, landing on soil or in bodies of water, causing contamination. Lakes and rivers are also contaminated when there is a direct discharge of mercury-laden industrial and municipal waste into these waterbodies.
Elemental mercury and mercury salts, although fairly inert when deposited on the bottom of waterways, are converted into organic mercury, typically methylmercury, by microorganisms. Methylmercury then enters the food chain, where it is biomagnified up to 100,000 times in predacious fish. Eagles, turtles, mink, otters and other fish-eating creatures may have mercury introduced into their diets, which can cause early death, weight loss, and problems with their ability to reproduce.
Once mercury accumulates in the tissue of fish and other organisms, it may ultimately reach the dinner table, as most common human exposure to methylmercury is through consumption of contaminated fish or animals that eat fish. This mercury vapor, which can be introduced to human systems through consumption or absorbed through the skin or inhaled, can cause neurological damage to adults, children and fetuses.
Brad Buscher
Chairman and CEO
VaporLok Products LLC
Large amounts of mercury become airborne when coal, oil, wood, or natural gas are burned as fuel or when mercury-containing garbage, including improperly discarded fluorescent lamps, is incinerated. This mercury can fall to the ground with rain and snow, landing on soil or in bodies of water, causing contamination. Lakes and rivers are also contaminated when there is a direct discharge of mercury-laden industrial and municipal waste into these waterbodies.
Elemental mercury and mercury salts, although fairly inert when deposited on the bottom of waterways, are converted into organic mercury, typically methylmercury, by microorganisms. Methylmercury then enters the food chain, where it is biomagnified up to 100,000 times in predacious fish. Eagles, turtles, mink, otters and other fish-eating creatures may have mercury introduced into their diets, which can cause early death, weight loss, and problems with their ability to reproduce.
Once mercury accumulates in the tissue of fish and other organisms, it may ultimately reach the dinner table, as most common human exposure to methylmercury is through consumption of contaminated fish or animals that eat fish. This mercury vapor, which can be introduced to human systems through consumption or absorbed through the skin or inhaled, can cause neurological damage to adults, children and fetuses.
Brad Buscher
Chairman and CEO
VaporLok Products LLC
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