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Light Bulb Safety

• Health
• Handling & Disposal
• Technical
• Regulation

Health

Are compact fluorescent light bulbs (CFLs) dangerous? They have been reported to be a hazard, but Health Canada granted the bulb a conditional approval with the stipulation that no exposed skin remain within 30 cm of an operating CFL for more than half and hour.

This warning is not much different from those that are written on a large variety of products in our homes, from cleaning agents to car products. Any product with a hazard warning needs to be handled with respect, and disposed of appropriately. This is the same for the CFL. Find out how to handle and dispose of CFLs.

The health study shows that CFLs emit ultraviolet (UV) radiation, the same radiation that comes from tanning beds, the sun and other bulbs (including incandescent bulbs). UV is needed in the body to process vitamin D, and it can kill germs and treat various skin conditions.

But overexposure can cause skin reactions such as a burn, premature skin aging, skin cancer, eye problems and weakening of the immune system. For this reason, Health Canada doesn’t recommend exposure to the rays of UV emitting bulbs for more than 3 consecutive hours at less than 30 cm (roughly 11 inches).

To protect from UV, install the CFL in a fixture that has glass or fabric around it (e.g. a lamp shade or enclosed mount setting).

Electric and magnetic fields are created in the operation of a CFL as well as all electrical equipment from appliances to power cords to outdoor power lines. An electric field forms whenever you plug a lamp or an appliance into an outlet, even if it is not turned on. A magnetic field forms when the current is flowing through the wire or appliance.

Health Canada has tested the bulbs at a distance of 20 cm and according to science-based guidelines, the levels of emissions are well below the maximum levels of exposure allowed when the current is flowing through a wire or appliance.

Health Canada continues to observe any scientific evidence with respect to sensitivity to the CFL as it becomes available.

Handling & Disposal

There are instructions on the Health Canada website on how to handle the clean up of a CFL in the odd chance that it break within the home.

A CFL should be handled by the base and not the bulb, especially when screwing it into the socket and removed in the same fashion. Treat it with respect, as you would with any other product in your household that has a specific handling and use warning.

Disposal of all wastes is a concern to the city. CFLs and fluorescents in particular should be disposed of at Eco Station waste management centres:

• Ambleside: 14710 Ellerslie Road SW
• Coronation: 11440-143 Street
• Strathcona: 5150-99 Street (entrance on 99 Street)

Other bulbs should also be disposed of at Eco Stations in order to keep the compost stream clean of glass shards.

The CFLs and fluorescents are disposed of by a contractor specializing in the handling of mercury collection and recycling.

Technical

	Incandescent	High Efficiency Halogen	Compact Fluorescent (CFL)	Light-Emitting Diode (LED)
Price (60 watts or equivalent)	bulb not available by 2012	$3.50 and up	$1 and up	$20 and up
Bulb Life	1,000 hours	2,500 hours	8,000 hours	20,000 hours
Energy Use Comparison		75% of an incandescent	25% of an incandescent	10% of an incandescent

An average Edmonton household uses approximately 7,800 kWh of electricity, generating about 7.7 tonnes of greenhouse gas yearly. (One tonne of CO₂ is the volume of CO₂ that would fill an average two-storey house.)

Roughly 10% of the electricity used in the house is used to power the lights. By using CFL and LED bulbs, thereby reducing the amount of electricity required for lighting, you can reduce your energy costs and lower your greenhouse gas emissions!

Regulation

The federal regulation is aimed at the elimination of inefficient lighting, not just incandescent fixtures. There will still be some incandescent fixtures on the market after the regulation takes effect; these would be shatterproof lights, coloured lights, high efficiency incandescents and some specialized incandescent lights designed for specific purposes in medicine and special appliances (e.g. ovens).

City Position

The City of Edmonton no longer installs incandescent bulbs in its facilities. We use high efficiency haologen, fluorescents, CFL and LED potlights. We have just finished upgrading the City Hall with higher efficiency fluorescent lights, and dimmer and individual controls. It is all high efficiency lighting now!

For more information:

Carbon Dioxide Reduction Edmonton (CO2RE)

Suite 750, Tower I Scotia Place
10060 Jasper Avenue NW
Edmonton, Alberta   T5J 3R8

Telephone	In Edmonton: 311 Outside Edmonton: 780-442-5311
Email	co2re@edmonton.ca