BULBS: Research turns lights on

Among the most persistent of the "Urban Legends" currently in circulation is the one regarding Compact Fluorescent Light Bulbs. Mr. Joseph M. Cifka (Coeur d'Alene Press, Oct. 19) expresses his concerns in a well thought out list.

Unfortunately, while these concerns may be legitimate, they are hopelessly out of date. Fluorescent light bulbs have been in widespread use since the 1930s. Yes! They all contain small amounts of mercury and other possibly hazardous materials. The bulbs are offered in a wide variety of sizes and shapes. Who has not seen the 96-inch tubes that provide lighting in supermarkets, industrial locations, office spaces, etc.; or the 48-inch size that lights literally millions of garages and shops throughout the country; or the curved tubes that provide light in our kitchens and bathrooms. They are literally everywhere and have been for more than 50 years.

How many of the billions upon billions of bulbs that have been in use for all this time have been inadvertently broken? When was the last time anyone was actually injured by all of this hazardous stuff that we probably couldn't live without? How many millions of tons of fluorescent light-bulb residue have been deposited in this country's (or the world's) dump sites without proper burial?

Why, then are we being convinced to get all tweaked out over a newly designed bulb that contains far less hazardous material than its much larger cousins?

I agree with Mr. Cifka that the government should stop dictating which products we can use, but the public ought to do some research on subjects such as this before joining the stampede to rid the world of everything that may be dangerous.

THOMAS R. MACY

Post Falls