A Bright Idea's Dark Side ; Fluorescent Light Bulbs Save Energy, but Must Be Disposed of Carefully

Summary

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If a light bulb can be hip, compact fluorescents are "it" these days. The corkscrew-shaped bulbs last six times as long as conventional incandescent lights, use 75 percent less electricity and are a simple way to reduce global warming pollution.

But each bulb also contains a tiny bead of mercury, a toxic metal blamed for poisoning waters and fish around the country. Here's a primer on how North Jersey is handling the problem:

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A Bright Idea's Dark Side ; Fluorescent Light Bulbs Save Energy, but Must Be Disposed of Carefully

Q. How much mercury is in a bulb?

The average compact fluorescent bulb (CFL) contains 5 milligrams of mercury. When the bulb's turned on,...

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