Do CFLs contain mercury? And isn that bad for the environment?
Energy saving bulbs contain only tiny traces of mercury – imagine a pellet smaller than the tip of a biro. What’s more, in the long term, CFL technology will actually help less mercury to pollute the air. This is because burning fossil fuels like coal is the biggest source of mercury in the air. And as energy saving bulbs use 80% less electricity than a traditional bulb, they mean far less mercury overall.
