Higher Mercury content in green lamp poses health hazards

New Delhi, Sept 30: Damaged Compact fluorescent lamp (CFL) or green lamp, if comes in direct contact with heavy metals can cause neurological problems to pregnant women and children and affect vital organs like liver.

Higher mercury content in the lamps are harmful for our health as these lamps are not environmentally and health-friendly. According to the latest study, the lamps which are sold in the market contains an average mercury level of 21 mg per lamp as compared to the global best of three to four mg.

The annual growth rate of CFL in the Indian market is 36%. The Bureau of Energy Efficiency's (BEE) Bachat Lamp Yojana is registered with the UN's carbon offsetting scheme, which sells the lamps at subsidised rates. CFL lamps are more energy efficient than incandescent lamps.

Ravi Aggarwal, the director of toxic link revealed that central pollution control board's claim the mercury content in CFL is 3-12 mg, which is partially incorrect.

According to the study, mercury content in the four leading brands are 2.27 mg and 62.56 mg. Ravi Aggarwal was quoted as saying, "It is free for all as there were no standards set on mercury in CFLs in India."

Safe disposal of CFLs is also an issue, with the environment ministry not including the lamps in the electronic waste management and disposal rules.

OneIndia News