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Across the EU it's lights out for
the good old incandescent bulb

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since september first even 40 and
25 watt bulbs are off the market

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The EU has pushed through energy efficient lights

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mainly the compact fluorescent models known as the CFLs

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but they leave much to be desired

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I think that these energy-efficient
bulbs make poor light

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it's not bright, it's diffuse. That means
the color rendering is awful

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And CFLs contain a highly
hazardous metal: mercury

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This bulb poses a grave danger
if it breaks

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the mercury vaporizes and gets
into the lungs within seconds

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Critics warn they even admit toxic
substances in normal use

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If a simple instrument like this can register poisons
and contaminants emitted from these bulbs

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that means there's
a serious problem

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it indicates the presence
of hazardous toxins

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It's universally agreed that the new bulbs
use less electricity and last longer

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but critics say consumers and the environment
will pay a high price for these benefits

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At the Foxdorf kindergarten in Hamburg
instructors are using a playful method

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to teach four to six year olds
about both kinds of lights

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the old incandescent bulbs and
the new energy-efficient models

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and this is the new model - of course it looks
different than the bulb you've drawn

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there is the spiral version
and the tubular shapes

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You probably see them in light
fixtures at home, don't you?

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My mom doesn't buy them because when
you turn them on it always takes a while

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and by the time it's lit up you're already
washed and dried your hands

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then you're out of the bathroom.

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The teacher wants to teach the children what to do
in case one of the new bulbs shatters

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so if this energy-efficient bulb drops
you have to leave the room immediately

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so let's run a drill

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remember there's poison inside

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we're only practicing now but if it drops
and breaks you have to run for the door, okay?

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So I'll pretend to drop it - it breaks
and now you have to hurry outside.

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The official recommendation from the federal
environment agency is to evacuate for 15 minutes

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leave the windows open,
turn off the heat

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To find out if those
precautions are justified

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we turn to an independent laboratory that analyzes
environmentally hazardous materials - including mercury

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and the researchers take
all precautions for our test

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here's a protective mask

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just pull it over your head

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Laboratory head Gary Zorner says there's only one
sensible reaction when a CFL bulb shatters

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You should get away as quickly as possible

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it could enter your blood stream
through the lungs and from there into the brain

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or through the olfactory nerves directly into the nervous system
That's why we take these safety precautions

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the measures include a fume hood,
breathing masks and gloves.

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As soon as the glass breaks an invisible cloud
of mercury is released from the bulb.

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We can see the electronic components

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Zorner is highly critical of the use of
mercury in this kind of product

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Every encounter with mercury makes
you a bit more stupid and lowers your IQ

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It is a highly dangerous nerve poison and can also
affect many other organs and the immune system

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There should be a zero tolerance policy
for mercury

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We must do all we can to
institute all worldwide ban

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against mining,
production and distribution

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Environmental medical specialist Joachim Mutter has worked
for years with patients suffering from mercury poisoning

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He is regularly asked to testify
in civil court cases

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Recently he encountered a youngster who suffered
severe injury after low-energy bulb shattered.

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The boy was already ill at the time

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and the parents had no idea just
how dangerous the mercury cloud was.

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They didn't air out the room and the
shards were thrown in the garbage

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The child then slept
in his bedroom

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Within the first week he
developed a skin rash

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By week two
he began losing hair

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he developed severe diarrhea
and a visible case of the shakes

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He showed what I'd describe
as autistic ticks

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He was withdrawn, lost interest
and was constantly tired.

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He slept all the time
and was lethargic

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nothing like the boy
he was before

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After extensive therapy he slowly
regained his health and vitality

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That's precisely the kind of accident the instructors
at the Foxdorf kindergarten are trying to prevent.

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Silke Stoltenberg uses a demonstration bulb to show
the children how to safely dispose of them

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in accordance with the government's
environmental guidelines

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I use cardboard to gather all the
pieces and put them in here

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your mom and dad
can do that too

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I collect the big pieces
in the cardboard

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and use tape to
gather the rest

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Then I press down on it
to get every little piece

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We are not allowed
to use a vacuum

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and a broom isn't adviced because it
would only spread the mercury all-around

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Then I take off the gloves
and dispose of them too.

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There might be hazardous
material clinging to them

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So now I shut the lid tight
and we'll recycle it.

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Light bulbs filled with toxic metal
not what most people would call progress

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We visit a lighting designer
in Hamburg

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Katja Winkelmann is an engineer and
knows a thing or two about the business

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The problem with this form of technology
is that it simply doesn't work without mercury

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That's true of all bulbs
of this sort

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and that includes these tubular models
the fluorescent lights.

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It's the same for the compact CFL bulbs,
the energy-efficient bulbs.

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None of these can function
without mercury

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That's simply based on
the technology in use

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EU guidelines allow up to 5 milligrams
of mercury per bulb

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That's about the size
of the head of a pin

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In addition the base is filled
with complex electronics

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with up to thirty individual parts made
of silicon, phosphorus or aluminum

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These bulbs are built with
this electronic ballast

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We've taken this one
apart to show you

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The mercury is still inside because
we haven't broken this casing

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but we can clearly see the
intricate electronics involved

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and of course this has to be disposed of
in an eco-friendly manner

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Every time we recycle we throw away
these electronic components too

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and that's crazy because first the mercury has to be
dealt with and then a whole lot of electronic waste

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Most energy-efficient CFLs are produced
in Asia particularly China

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There are reports that employees
at some Chinese plants

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have suffered from
mercury poisoning

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We contacted investigative
labour activists there

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We know that Chinese workers
got poisoned by mercury while producing ...

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Is there a way to find out
what happened to the workers?

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At great personal risk a member is going
to go under cover with a hidden camera

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in an attempt to document
working conditions at the plant.

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We're willing
to take the risk.

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If we can prove the rumors are true perhaps we can
force a change in labour conditions in those facilities

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Garry Zorrner has begun a new test with 6 CFL
models produced by 5 different manufacturers

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He's studying whether intact energy-efficient
bulbs may also pose health risks.

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Once the lamps are on, the surrounding air is
collected, chemically bonded and analyzed.

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This is an extract from the air sample
that we've sucked into the tube.

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Now we'll use gas chromatography, mass spectrometry
to find out what substances it contains.

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This method reveals that there
are various substances.

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There are volatile organic compounds

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We've even fount measurable traces
of the toxin phenol.

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What's the problem with phenol?

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Phenol is carcinogenic and
is considered a health hazard.

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we also found tetrahydrofuran
which may also cause cancer

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There are others as well.

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Alkylbenzines which can damage the nervous system
and are toxic to the liver and so on.

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The worst thing is that you have an entire cocktail
of substances linked with various health risks.

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That is a particular concern.

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But Germany's environment agency says the concentration
of emmissions is not high enough to be a significant health risk.

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We consult Wolfgang Maes a recognized authority
in building biology and environmental analytics.

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We want to find out exactly
how the toxins are emitted.

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Do they escape from the base
or from the glass housing?

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We can give this simple
instrument a try.

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It's a sampling probe, fairly insensitive
and not very accurate.

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We can see where the emissions are coming from
the scratches that lead to the ballast as I suspect

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once the bulb has reached
a certain temperature.

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Listen to that!

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It is the same at the other switch.

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Look at how that follows
the glass housing.

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So if toxins such as phenol are escaping from
this bulb why aren't they better sealed?

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It must be possible from a
manufacturing standpoint.

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You must ask the producers.

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It's a necessity no matter
how high the cost.

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We're talking about poisons that
should not be allowed to escape.

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If such a simple instrument can detect
poisons and contaminants emitted by CFLs

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then we truly have a problem.

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I'm talking about biologically
hazardous emissions.

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We asked manufacturers to comment.

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One of them responds:

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In addition we conduct internal and
external inspections on a regular basis.

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As a manufacturer of high quality brands, Osram
complies with all manufacturing standards and guidelines.

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In addition we conduct internal and
external inspections on a regular basis.

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Maes also measured the amount of
electron smog produced by the CFLs.

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So I turned off the energy-efficient bulb
and replaced it with a filament bulb.

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Look at the field intensity
on the display.

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You can see for yourself that the
traditional light bulb gets better results.

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It's a much healthier choice
than the energy-efficient models.

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In particular this bulb produces a field
whose strength is 42 volts per metre

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The limit for a computer work place
is just 1 volt per metre.

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That means that this bulb is 42 times more intense
than a personal computer is allowed to be

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We found CFLs that produce over 70 volts per metre
- 70 times higher than a pc

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What kind of health problems could arise if I sit too close
to an energy-efficient land, for instance at a desk?

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From a biological standpoint there's dangerous electromagnetic
exposure to your head, your body, your entire work environment.

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It can lead to neurological and
hormonal problems and to cell damage.

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These are all things that can be triggered
by high electromagnetic field intensity.

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Here in a typical German residential area, we want to find out
how consumers are accepting energy-efficient bulbs.

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The first family has only a few CFLs
used where they won't be noticed.

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We use normal bulbs here in the living room - the CFLs
are so ugly, they'd destroy the look of our chandelier.

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Family number two has designer lighting
with the appropriate bulbs.

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Halogen bulbs? - We use mostly floodlights ... the one exception
is the fluorescent tube in the kitchen.

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I installed it over the sink.

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The family has decided to install
energy-saving bulbs only in certain areas.

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We replaced the bulbs
on this ceiling lamp.

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The CFLs makes sense because
this lamp is on for lengthy periods.

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Family number three has just moved into
a new house and has bought new furnishings.

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most of the lamps have CFLs.

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Are you worried about sleeping next to a bulb that contains mercury?
Have you even thought about that?

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To tell you the truth it hadn't crossed my mind but as long as
the mercury is contained in the class housing it won't leak out.

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The anecdotal evidence from three homes
only 37 percent energy-efficient bulbs

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the rest is a mix of incandescent,
halogen and fluorescent.

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Then number four who was initially excited
about the prospect of saving energy and costs

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The enthusiasm didn't last long.

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This is my collection of
energy-efficient bulbs

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I tried them all and
we didn't like them.

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They all ended up in the basement.

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This is our supply of incandescent bulbs
for use around the house.

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They just don't produce the
kind of light we want.

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We can't use dimmers and we've been
reading about the dangers as well.

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They're supposed to be environmentally friendly
and yet they contain mercury.

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Sorry we just can't grasp
that concept.

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The European Union enacted legislation
on energy-efficient bulbs back in 2009.

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Early on european parliament member Holger Krahmer voiced skepticism
and pointed out the possible adverse effects for consumers.

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It's clear that health concerns were simply not a factor
in implementing the ban on incandescent bulbs

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and the pressure to market
energy-efficient bulbs.

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The EU commission admitted as much.

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At the time there had been no comprehensive
studies - it wasn't just about mercury.

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There are also concerns about the psychological
effects of the light among other things.

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But didn't the EU commission
carry out extensive testing?

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We asked commissioner for energy
Gunter Oetinger to comment

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He refused sending a
spokesperson instead.

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Were studies done on possible adverse effects
of CFLs prior to the incandescent bulb ban?

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Before we began taking light bulbs off the market we investigated
the problem of mercury in the energy-efficient bulbs.

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We asked some of the independent
scientists on our advisory council

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and the indicated there was no risk from the amount
of mercury contained in the new energy-saving lights.

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One day later she
sent a correction.

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In an email she wrote that extensive test results were only
submitted in 2010 long after the phase out went into effect.

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In a 2009 study researchers
looked at just 5 different CFLs

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that was the minimum requirement.

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So why the urgent decision to ban filament bulbs
and replace them with CFLs?

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It was at the height of the climate debate.
It started in Australia and spread around the globe.

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Everyone was unscrewing light bulbs and no one wanted
to be left behind including chancellor Merkel

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There was no stopping it.

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Incandescent bulbs had to be
banned to save the world.

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The EU commission appointed a committee to set
guidelines for the energy-efficient bulbs.

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It included industry experts along
with representatives of consumer groups.

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Why were producers such as Phillips
and Osram at the table?

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It's all about who knows whom.
The buddy system.

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The bureaucrats in the EU commission
have circles of friends. They network.

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00:18:08,402 --> 00:18:10,503
And when it comes to a
decision on some issue

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they invite those who might
be affected by it to meet.

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00:18:13,579 --> 00:18:19,570
And it has to be clear that environmental
concerns aren't necessarily the highest priority.

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Rather these decisions are heavily influenced
by the respective business interests.

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There's no profit in the incandescent bulb
perhaps just a few cents.

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The profit margin is much higher for CFLs.

221
00:18:30,705 --> 00:18:35,734
That's why business interests trumped
environmental concerns in coming to this decision.

222
00:18:35,835 --> 00:18:41,438
Proponents point out that the
energy-efficient lamps truly do save electricity

223
00:18:41,439 --> 00:18:43,691
and have a much longer life span.

224
00:18:43,692 --> 00:18:45,459
But is that really the case?

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00:18:45,460 --> 00:18:50,680
In Frankfurt we visit the offices of popular
german consumer magazine Eko-test.

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00:18:50,681 --> 00:18:53,842
It's done extensive research into CFLs.

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00:18:53,843 --> 00:19:02,569
Editor in chief Gurgen Stepflug and his team studied 16 different models
to find out whether they live up to manufacturers claims.

228
00:19:07,513 --> 00:19:12,294
Here they claim that this 11 watt CFL
can replace a 60 watt filament bulb.

229
00:19:12,295 --> 00:19:13,768
That's simply not enough.

230
00:19:13,769 --> 00:19:16,835
Our findings indicate you'd
need at least 14 watts.

231
00:19:16,836 --> 00:19:19,211
But the CFLs also lose
brightness quickly.

232
00:19:19,212 --> 00:19:23,874
so actually you need a 21 watt energy-efficient
lamp to replace an old 60 watt bulb.

233
00:19:27,726 --> 00:19:28,926
And the lifespan?

234
00:19:28,927 --> 00:19:36,126
According to this, one low-energy bulb
lasts longer than 8 traditional bulbs.

235
00:19:36,127 --> 00:19:41,389
The manufacturer is required to print
this information on the packaging

236
00:19:41,390 --> 00:19:42,484
It just doesn't add up.

237
00:19:42,485 --> 00:19:46,623
Yes, they're required to but no
officials check to see if it's true.

238
00:19:46,624 --> 00:19:50,690
But this laboratory in Vilhemshofen does.

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00:19:53,340 --> 00:19:59,633
Electrical engineer Wolfgang Hoerter and the staff at the
Pruf Centrum Technik have been testing bulbs for years

240
00:19:59,634 --> 00:20:02,208
commissioned by consumer
protection groups.

241
00:20:02,209 --> 00:20:06,766
That includes tests on the true
life span of energy saving lights.

242
00:20:09,650 --> 00:20:14,674
This room contains more than 100 lamps
from 36 manufacturers.

243
00:20:14,675 --> 00:20:18,823
On average they should burn
between 8 and 10 thousand hours.

244
00:20:20,914 --> 00:20:22,818
We're performing a longevity test here.

245
00:20:24,907 --> 00:20:29,371
More than 7.000 hours and 30%
of them have burned out.

246
00:20:29,372 --> 00:20:31,076
That's a lot.

247
00:20:31,077 --> 00:20:35,593
In addition we have a row with lights
that are regularly turned off and on.

248
00:20:37,856 --> 00:20:41,451
Metred so they are on for 1 minute
and then off for 5.

249
00:20:44,092 --> 00:20:45,675
And the test runs around the clock.

250
00:20:46,678 --> 00:20:49,506
The first bulbs expire
at the 3.000 hour mark.

251
00:20:50,507 --> 00:20:55,460
And you can tell by these dark spots
that a lamp is about to burn out.

252
00:20:59,938 --> 00:21:03,591
In a bathroom families turn the light
on and off at least 10 times a day.

253
00:21:03,592 --> 00:21:06,402
So a CFL probably
wouldn't last a year.

254
00:21:10,815 --> 00:21:16,133
We asked Germany's largest bulb producer
to explain the apparent discrepancy.

255
00:21:16,134 --> 00:21:18,144
Osram answered my email:

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00:21:20,510 --> 00:21:24,865
We are Germany's only manufacturer to
guarantee our energy-efficient bulbs.

257
00:21:24,866 --> 00:21:28,591
This guaranty also applies
particularly to the life span.

258
00:21:33,755 --> 00:21:38,156
In the meantime we've reestablished
contact with the Chinese labor activists.

259
00:21:38,157 --> 00:21:45,530
They've been able to place one of their members inside an
assembly plant at the Fusan electrical and lighting company.

260
00:21:45,531 --> 00:21:50,496
This facility produces fluorescent lights
which operate on the same principle as CFLs.

261
00:21:50,497 --> 00:21:52,326
The key component is mercury.

262
00:21:52,327 --> 00:22:00,414
Heinrich Calmer is a lighting designer previously employed by a major manufacturer.
He speaks with authority about the images from the Chinese plant

263
00:22:03,189 --> 00:22:05,872
The employees aren't wearing protective gear.

264
00:22:12,271 --> 00:22:15,745
and it should be disposed of once
they leave the production line.

265
00:22:15,746 --> 00:22:20,160
If one of these tubes breaks
highly toxic mercury will escape.

266
00:22:20,161 --> 00:22:26,701
Chinese regulations stipulate protective clothing but it
appears few employees are aware of the health hazards.

267
00:22:26,702 --> 00:22:33,025
Over the past few years there have been numerous
documented cases of toxic accidents including at this plant.

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00:22:36,098 --> 00:22:39,782
Under these conditions can recall these
lamps environmentally friendly?

269
00:22:40,858 --> 00:22:43,622
Certainly not when you look
at it from this standpoint.

270
00:22:43,623 --> 00:22:47,158
They do consume less electricity

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00:22:47,159 --> 00:22:51,068
but noone sees the environmental
damage caused by mercury.

272
00:22:58,503 --> 00:23:07,021
So special EU exemptions were put into effect
to make CFLs available to consumers.

273
00:23:08,868 --> 00:23:12,271
The guidelines are far stricter
for all other instruments.

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00:23:12,272 --> 00:23:14,265
Mercury thermometers are banned.

275
00:23:14,266 --> 00:23:18,523
But there are special guidelines
for fluorescent tubes and CFLs

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00:23:18,524 --> 00:23:23,593
so that these energy-efficient bulbs
will continue to pollute the environment.

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00:23:25,794 --> 00:23:32,778
In 2004 Osram bought a stake in the
Fusan electrical and lighting company.

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00:23:32,779 --> 00:23:35,264
In a statement Osram declares:

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00:23:35,265 --> 00:23:42,016
With the goal of improving occupational safety and health
Osram successfully implemented these and other measures in 2010:

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- Use of modern dosing technologies
- weekly mercury monitoring
- construction of new ventilation and exhaust mechanisms

281
00:23:52,636 --> 00:23:56,386
And then there's the problem of
disposing of the burned out bulbs.

282
00:23:56,387 --> 00:24:00,259
Germany forbids throwing them away
with the rest of the household trash.

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00:24:00,260 --> 00:24:06,447
We go to a building supply center to see
whether it has a recycling program in place.

284
00:24:06,448 --> 00:24:09,023
It doesn't appear to be the case.

285
00:24:12,297 --> 00:24:15,081
Excuse me, I'd like to recycle this bulb.

286
00:24:15,082 --> 00:24:18,987
Sorry I can't help you,
I don't think we accept them.

287
00:24:18,988 --> 00:24:21,317
There was nothing
in the light department

288
00:24:21,318 --> 00:24:22,849
We don't accept them.

289
00:24:22,850 --> 00:24:25,681
But I bought it here.
That doesn't matter.

290
00:24:25,682 --> 00:24:30,037
The only alternative is a
trip to the recycling center.

291
00:24:30,038 --> 00:24:36,041
On the way my car burned nearly a litre of gas
and emitted over 2.000 grams of Co2

292
00:24:36,042 --> 00:24:39,906
all to dispose of one
eco-friendly light bulb.

293
00:24:39,907 --> 00:24:45,002
Waste separation actually works quite
efficiently in environmentally conscious Germany

294
00:24:45,003 --> 00:24:48,896
but the CFLs pose a
gigantic recycling problem.

295
00:24:48,897 --> 00:24:51,474
Recycling centers are
required to accept them

296
00:24:51,475 --> 00:24:58,802
but experts estimate that only about 10% of CFLs
from german households are properly disposed of.

297
00:24:58,803 --> 00:25:01,822
That means that 90% are
thrown out with the trash

298
00:25:01,823 --> 00:25:05,884
ending up in landfills and posing
an environmental hazard.

299
00:25:06,811 --> 00:25:10,257
But surely the EU commission
has imposed recycling guidelines

300
00:25:10,258 --> 00:25:15,093
Eurocrats in Brussels have regulated
almost every aspect of our lives

301
00:25:15,094 --> 00:25:21,886
but the spokesperson for the EU energy commissioner
couldn't find the laws applying to recycling up CFLs.

302
00:25:24,338 --> 00:25:29,814
As far as recycling is concerned stores that
sell the bulbs must also take the used ones back.

303
00:25:30,115 --> 00:25:31,698
But they dont't.

304
00:25:31,733 --> 00:25:33,416
They have to.

305
00:25:33,417 --> 00:25:35,867
The stores have to
take them back.

306
00:25:35,868 --> 00:25:39,211
Take CFLs back for recycling?

307
00:25:39,212 --> 00:25:41,985
The stores refuse and say
they're not required to.

308
00:25:41,986 --> 00:25:45,254
You can't dispose of the burned out bulbs
at the place you bought them.

309
00:25:49,508 --> 00:25:52,355
The law stipulates that the
stores must accept them.

310
00:25:52,356 --> 00:25:58,424
The law also says that member nations must inform
its citizens where and how to dispose of these bulbs.

311
00:25:58,425 --> 00:26:01,215
Of course that includes
Germany and German citizens.

312
00:26:05,697 --> 00:26:08,815
The spokesperson for the EU
energy commissioner is wrong.

313
00:26:08,850 --> 00:26:12,210
Mrs Holsner corrects her statement
the day following our interview

314
00:26:12,211 --> 00:26:16,758
Stores may recycle the bulbs
on a voluntary basis.

315
00:26:20,963 --> 00:26:24,758
Light designers are developing bulbs
that work without mercury.

316
00:26:24,759 --> 00:26:32,304
At the Unilever house in Hamburg LEDs and natural lighting
are part of the progressive energy-efficient concept

317
00:26:32,305 --> 00:26:34,212
It's an expensive solution.

318
00:26:34,213 --> 00:26:37,303
At a cost of 30 to 40 euros per bulb

319
00:26:37,304 --> 00:26:40,471
LEDs are beyond the price range
of many families

320
00:26:40,506 --> 00:26:44,745
but they do last up to
5 times longer than CFLs.

321
00:26:50,211 --> 00:26:54,516
These LEDs are a very effective and
energy efficient way of generating light.

322
00:26:54,517 --> 00:26:59,812
The major advantage is that LEDs emit
maximum light at the flip of the switch.

323
00:26:59,813 --> 00:27:02,120
That's my major complaint with CFLs

324
00:27:02,121 --> 00:27:04,467
You can fall down the stairs
because there's no light.

325
00:27:04,468 --> 00:27:06,726
LEDs solve that problem.

326
00:27:06,727 --> 00:27:08,712
They're a good alternative.

327
00:27:11,353 --> 00:27:17,171
But if LEDs are too expensive and CFLs
too dangerous there's little choice left.

328
00:27:19,940 --> 00:27:24,123
This lighting shop in Hamburg
recognized a business opportunity

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00:27:24,124 --> 00:27:27,943
ordering and hoarding
thousands of traditional bulbs.

330
00:27:27,944 --> 00:27:31,599
Stefan Shroder expects to
be doing a booming business.

331
00:27:37,897 --> 00:27:42,752
Look at this bulb, it's beautiful -
I have about a thousand in this style

332
00:27:43,453 --> 00:27:46,583
And how many bulbs in all?

333
00:27:46,584 --> 00:27:49,435
One of two million at least.

334
00:27:53,558 --> 00:27:57,706
On September first farewell
to the incandescent bulb.

335
00:27:57,707 --> 00:28:03,412
Consumers have stocked up and
demand for CFLs is moderate at best

336
00:28:03,413 --> 00:28:08,574
a potentially toxic product that
simply doesn't live up to the hype.