Environmental Law

Expert Warns of Health Risks Associated With New Light Bulbs

By STEPHEN HOLZER

(CNSNews.com) ? A lighting expert who has overseen lighting projects including the Statue of Liberty and the Petronas Towers expressed concerns on Capitol Hill Thursday about the safety of certain types of new light bulbs.

Appearing before the Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee, Howard M. Brandston spoke in favor of the "Better Use of Light Bulbs Act" ? a measure which would overturn elements of a 2007 law mandating that traditional incandescent light bulbs be phased out over the next few years.

In his testimony, Brandston claimed that parts of the 2007 Energy Independence and Security Act serve as a ?de-facto ban on traditional incandescent light bulbs? and that compact fluorescent light bulbs, or CFLs -- the most popular alternative to ordinary incandescent bulbs -- pose a risk to public health and safety.

(Click here [2] to see a 2009 CNSNews.com commentary which addresses those issues.)

 ?The compact fluorescent lamp contains mercury,? said Brandston. ?One gram of mercury will pollute a two acre pond. This 2007 light bulb standard brings a deadly poison into every residence in our nation.

via www.cnsnews.com

Full post as published by Environmental Legal Blogs on March 12, 2011 (boomark / email).