Watts the Scoop on Mercury?

July 07, 2008

Compact fluorescent lamps or CFLs, sometimes referred to informally as "the swirly lightbulbs," are far more efficient than classic incandescents, but they contain small amounts of mercury. While quite a few people have made the switch to CFLs, which are between four and six times more efficient than incandescents, there is a risk if the bulb breaks. The mercury could come out as a vapor and pose a threat to small children and pregnant women.

Fortunately, the Boston Globe reported today that researchers at Brown University have come up with a way to reduce that risk using nanomaterials. Engineering professor Robert Hurt led the group, which discovered that a substance called nanoselenium absorbs 99% of the mercury coming out of a broken bulb. The stuff is so effective that only a small amount would be needed to create liners or packaging for the bulbs. Hurt and his team also created a prototype for a mercury-absorbent, protective lining and the university has applied for federal patents relating to the technology.

Last year Americans bought about 290 million Energy Star rated swirly bulbs, so anything that makes them safer is a bright idea. Meanwhile, handle with care!

Photo: Brown engineering students Love Sarin (left) and Brian Lee with a mercury-absorbing cloth. Credit: John Abromowski, Brown University