Toxic Light - The Dark Side of Energy Saving Bulbs

A look at how dangerous the new energy-saving light bulbs are. The EU has banned many incandescent bulbs in favor of Compact Florescent Lights (CFLs). CFLs emit serious toxins while being used. All Florescent lights contain Mercury. There is enough Mercury to pose a serious health risk in the event of a CLF breakage. People are being told to run out of the building for 15 minutes, open windows and turn off the heat. Additionally the bulbs do not last as long as advertised and they take a long time to warm up, decreasing in brightness over time. The light they emit is not a full spectrum steady light. Few Bulbs actually get recycled and they need to be treated as hazardous materials when discarding them. Consumers be alerted!

A Report by Alexandra Pfeil
Presented on LINK TV in the USA for DW In Focus, English Version

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

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

The EU has pushed through energy efficient lights

mainly the compact fluorescent models known as the CFLs

but they leave much to be desired

I think that these energy-efficient
bulbs make poor light

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

And CFLs contain a highly
hazardous metal: mercury

This bulb poses a grave danger
if it breaks

the mercury vaporizes and gets
into the lungs within seconds

Critics warn they even admit toxic
substances in normal use

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

that means there's
a serious problem

it indicates the presence
of hazardous toxins

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

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

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

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

the old incandescent bulbs and
the new energy-efficient models

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

there is the spiral version
and the tubular shapes

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

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

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

then you're out of the bathroom.

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

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

so let's run a drill

remember there's poison inside

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

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

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

leave the windows open,
turn off the heat

To find out if those
precautions are justified

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

and the researchers take
all precautions for our test

here's a protective mask

just pull it over your head

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

You should get away as quickly as possible

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

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

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

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

We can see the electronic components

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

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

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

There should be a zero tolerance policy
for mercury

We must do all we can to
institute all worldwide ban

against mining,
production and distribution

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

He is regularly asked to testify
in civil court cases

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

The boy was already ill at the time

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

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

The child then slept
in his bedroom

Within the first week he
developed a skin rash

By week two
he began losing hair

he developed severe diarrhea
and a visible case of the shakes

He showed what I'd describe
as autistic ticks

He was withdrawn, lost interest
and was constantly tired.

He slept all the time
and was lethargic

nothing like the boy
he was before

After extensive therapy he slowly
regained his health and vitality

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

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

in accordance with the government's
environmental guidelines

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

your mom and dad
can do that too

I collect the big pieces
in the cardboard

and use tape to
gather the rest

Then I press down on it
to get every little piece

We are not allowed
to use a vacuum

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

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

There might be hazardous
material clinging to them

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

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

We visit a lighting designer
in Hamburg

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

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

That's true of all bulbs
of this sort

and that includes these tubular models
the fluorescent lights.

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

None of these can function
without mercury

That's simply based on
the technology in use

EU guidelines allow up to 5 milligrams
of mercury per bulb

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

In addition the base is filled
with complex electronics

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

These bulbs are built with
this electronic ballast

We've taken this one
apart to show you

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

but we can clearly see the
intricate electronics involved

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

Every time we recycle we throw away
these electronic components too

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

Most energy-efficient CFLs are produced
in Asia particularly China

There are reports that employees
at some Chinese plants

have suffered from
mercury poisoning

We contacted investigative
labour activists there

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

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

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

in an attempt to document
working conditions at the plant.

We're willing
to take the risk.

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

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

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

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

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

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

This method reveals that there
are various substances.

There are volatile organic compounds

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

What's the problem with phenol?

Phenol is carcinogenic and
is considered a health hazard.

we also found tetrahydrofuran
which may also cause cancer

There are others as well.

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

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

That is a particular concern.

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

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

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

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

We can give this simple
instrument a try.

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

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

once the bulb has reached
a certain temperature.

Listen to that!

It is the same at the other switch.

Look at how that follows
the glass housing.

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

It must be possible from a
manufacturing standpoint.

You must ask the producers.

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

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

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

then we truly have a problem.

I'm talking about biologically
hazardous emissions.

We asked manufacturers to comment.

One of them responds:

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

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

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

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

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

Look at the field intensity
on the display.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Family number two has designer lighting
with the appropriate bulbs.

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

I installed it over the sink.

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

We replaced the bulbs
on this ceiling lamp.

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

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

most of the lamps have CFLs.

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

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.

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

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

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

The enthusiasm didn't last long.

This is my collection of
energy-efficient bulbs

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

They all ended up in the basement.

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

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

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

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

Sorry we just can't grasp
that concept.

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

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

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

and the pressure to market
energy-efficient bulbs.

The EU commission admitted as much.

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

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

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

We asked commissioner for energy
Gunter Oetinger to comment

He refused sending a
spokesperson instead.

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

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

We asked some of the independent
scientists on our advisory council

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

One day later she
sent a correction.

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

In a 2009 study researchers
looked at just 5 different CFLs

that was the minimum requirement.

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

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

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

There was no stopping it.

Incandescent bulbs had to be
banned to save the world.

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

It included industry experts along
with representatives of consumer groups.

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

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

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

And when it comes to a
decision on some issue

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

And it has to be clear that environmental
concerns aren't necessarily the highest priority.

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

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

The profit margin is much higher for CFLs.

That's why business interests trumped
environmental concerns in coming to this decision.

Proponents point out that the
energy-efficient lamps truly do save electricity

and have a much longer life span.

But is that really the case?

In Frankfurt we visit the offices of popular
german consumer magazine Eko-test.

It's done extensive research into CFLs.

Editor in chief Gurgen Stepflug and his team studied 16 different models
to find out whether they live up to manufacturers claims.

Here they claim that this 11 watt CFL
can replace a 60 watt filament bulb.

That's simply not enough.

Our findings indicate you'd
need at least 14 watts.

But the CFLs also lose
brightness quickly.

so actually you need a 21 watt energy-efficient
lamp to replace an old 60 watt bulb.

And the lifespan?

According to this, one low-energy bulb
lasts longer than 8 traditional bulbs.

The manufacturer is required to print
this information on the packaging

It just doesn't add up.

Yes, they're required to but no
officials check to see if it's true.

But this laboratory in Vilhemshofen does.

Electrical engineer Wolfgang Hoerter and the staff at the
Pruf Centrum Technik have been testing bulbs for years

commissioned by consumer
protection groups.

That includes tests on the true
life span of energy saving lights.

This room contains more than 100 lamps
from 36 manufacturers.

On average they should burn
between 8 and 10 thousand hours.

We're performing a longevity test here.

More than 7.000 hours and 30%
of them have burned out.

That's a lot.

In addition we have a row with lights
that are regularly turned off and on.

Metred so they are on for 1 minute
and then off for 5.

And the test runs around the clock.

The first bulbs expire
at the 3.000 hour mark.

And you can tell by these dark spots
that a lamp is about to burn out.

In a bathroom families turn the light
on and off at least 10 times a day.

So a CFL probably
wouldn't last a year.

We asked Germany's largest bulb producer
to explain the apparent discrepancy.

Osram answered my email:

We are Germany's only manufacturer to
guarantee our energy-efficient bulbs.

This guaranty also applies
particularly to the life span.

In the meantime we've reestablished
contact with the Chinese labor activists.

They've been able to place one of their members inside an
assembly plant at the Fusan electrical and lighting company.

This facility produces fluorescent lights
which operate on the same principle as CFLs.

The key component is mercury.

Heinrich Calmer is a lighting designer previously employed by a major manufacturer.
He speaks with authority about the images from the Chinese plant

The employees aren't wearing protective gear.

and it should be disposed of once
they leave the production line.

If one of these tubes breaks
highly toxic mercury will escape.

Chinese regulations stipulate protective clothing but it
appears few employees are aware of the health hazards.

Over the past few years there have been numerous
documented cases of toxic accidents including at this plant.

Under these conditions can recall these
lamps environmentally friendly?

Certainly not when you look
at it from this standpoint.

They do consume less electricity

but noone sees the environmental
damage caused by mercury.

So special EU exemptions were put into effect
to make CFLs available to consumers.

The guidelines are far stricter
for all other instruments.

Mercury thermometers are banned.

But there are special guidelines
for fluorescent tubes and CFLs

so that these energy-efficient bulbs
will continue to pollute the environment.

In 2004 Osram bought a stake in the
Fusan electrical and lighting company.

In a statement Osram declares:

With the goal of improving occupational safety and health
Osram successfully implemented these and other measures in 2010:

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

And then there's the problem of
disposing of the burned out bulbs.

Germany forbids throwing them away
with the rest of the household trash.

We go to a building supply center to see
whether it has a recycling program in place.

It doesn't appear to be the case.

Excuse me, I'd like to recycle this bulb.

Sorry I can't help you,
I don't think we accept them.

There was nothing
in the light department

We don't accept them.

But I bought it here.
That doesn't matter.

The only alternative is a
trip to the recycling center.

On the way my car burned nearly a litre of gas
and emitted over 2.000 grams of Co2

all to dispose of one
eco-friendly light bulb.

Waste separation actually works quite
efficiently in environmentally conscious Germany

but the CFLs pose a
gigantic recycling problem.

Recycling centers are
required to accept them

but experts estimate that only about 10% of CFLs
from german households are properly disposed of.

That means that 90% are
thrown out with the trash

ending up in landfills and posing
an environmental hazard.

But surely the EU commission
has imposed recycling guidelines

Eurocrats in Brussels have regulated
almost every aspect of our lives

but the spokesperson for the EU energy commissioner
couldn't find the laws applying to recycling up CFLs.

As far as recycling is concerned stores that
sell the bulbs must also take the used ones back.

But they dont't.

They have to.

The stores have to
take them back.

Take CFLs back for recycling?

The stores refuse and say
they're not required to.

You can't dispose of the burned out bulbs
at the place you bought them.

The law stipulates that the
stores must accept them.

The law also says that member nations must inform
its citizens where and how to dispose of these bulbs.

Of course that includes
Germany and German citizens.

The spokesperson for the EU
energy commissioner is wrong.

Mrs Holsner corrects her statement
the day following our interview

Stores may recycle the bulbs
on a voluntary basis.

Light designers are developing bulbs
that work without mercury.

At the Unilever house in Hamburg LEDs and natural lighting
are part of the progressive energy-efficient concept

It's an expensive solution.

At a cost of 30 to 40 euros per bulb

LEDs are beyond the price range
of many families

but they do last up to
5 times longer than CFLs.

These LEDs are a very effective and
energy efficient way of generating light.

The major advantage is that LEDs emit
maximum light at the flip of the switch.

That's my major complaint with CFLs

You can fall down the stairs
because there's no light.

LEDs solve that problem.

They're a good alternative.

But if LEDs are too expensive and CFLs
too dangerous there's little choice left.

This lighting shop in Hamburg
recognized a business opportunity

ordering and hoarding
thousands of traditional bulbs.

Stefan Shroder expects to
be doing a booming business.

Look at this bulb, it's beautiful -
I have about a thousand in this style

And how many bulbs in all?

One of two million at least.

On September first farewell
to the incandescent bulb.

Consumers have stocked up and
demand for CFLs is moderate at best

a potentially toxic product that
simply doesn't live up to the hype.