Energy saving bulb and health hazards
“Energy saving bulb or less power consuming electric bulb” that is “Fluorescent” or “incandescent bulb” has been marketed in Bangladesh and is being used in most of the places --from hospitals, industrial units to homes. Fluorescent lamp uses 1/4th energy of incandescent lamp and lasts as much as 10 times longer. Fluorescent bulb contains toxic materials like mercury. Improper disposal of it releases mercury into air, soil, water, thus endangering human health. It needs H2E( www.h2e-online.org) recommended 10 steps disposal. Approximately 95% of the power consumed by an incandescent bulb is emitted as heat, rather than as visible light. An incandescent light bulb, with this 5% efficiency, is about one quarter as efficient as a fluorescent lamp (about 20% efficiency), and produces about six times as much heat with the same amount of light from both sources. Both fluorescents and incandescent bulbs are hazardous for human health as well as for the environment.
In our country without considering the awareness of above health hazards, many industries marketed the low cost energy saving bulbs! Will the manufacturers or the authorities concerned take the responsibility of disclosing the potential health and environment hazards of these bulbs and educate users on disposing of or recycling the same?
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