Is the mercury in energy-efficient compact fluorescent light globes dangerous?
Mercury is an essential component of compact fluorescent light globes (CFLs). While it is toxic, the amount of mercury in CFLs causes less pollution than other things. CFLs contain only a small amount – equivalent in size to the tip of a ball-point pen – but manufacturers are still taking steps to reduce the mercury content, and the amount of mercury used is anticipated to drop rapidly as the technology improves. More info on CFLs, including advice about safe handling.
