Mercury is an essential part of CFLs; it allows the bulb to be an efficient light source.  CFLs contain a very small amount of mercury sealed within the glass tubing – an average of 4 milligrams – about the amount that would cover the tip of a ballpoint pen.  Some manufacturers have even made further reductions in mercury content, dropping mercury content to 1.4 to 2.5 milligrams per light bulb.  On average, the mercury content in CFLs has dropped at least 20 percent in the past year. 

But regardless of the level of mercury content of your specific CFL, remember this:  No mercury is released when the bulbs are intact or in use. 

CFL MERCURY CONTENT VS. OTHER CONSUMER PRODUCTS

As stated above, CFLs contain, on average, 4 milligrams of mercury, with that total dropping as technology improves.  By comparison, older thermometers contain about 500 milligrams of mercury – an amount equal to the mercury in 125 CFLs. LCD projector TVs contain 50-100 mg of mercury, equivalent to 12-25 CFL bulbs.  Some laptop computers contain up to 50 mg of mercury as well.  Many telephones, scanners, monitors, and other electronic devices also contain more mercury than CFLs.   

Trace amounts of mercury in electronic products is not an issue unique to CFLs.  While Environment Illinois hopes technological advances will continue being made to lower mercury amounts in CFLs and other products, we recognize that the benefits of reduced energy consumption far outweigh the drawbacks associated with trace amounts of mercury in energy-saving products.   

CFL MERCURY CONTENT VS. OVERALL MERCURY EMISSIONS

The amount of mercury in CFLs is very small -- so small, in fact, that even if all 290 million CFLs sold in 2007 were sent to a landfill (versus recycled, as a worst case scenario), the overall release of mercury would add up to only 0.13 metric tons of mercury.     

Meanwhile, the EPA estimates the U.S. is responsible for the release of 104 metric tons of mercury emissions each year.  Most of these emissions come from coal-fired electrical power plants.  Mercury released into the air is the main way that mercury gets into water and bio-accumulates in fish.  

So even if all 290 million CFLs were sent to a landfill, it would add only 0.1 percent to U.S. mercury emissions caused by humans in a given year.  The greater threat from mercury, as highlighted below, comes from our heavy dependence on power generation and increased strain on our coal-fired power plants. 

CFL MERCURY CONTENT VS. INCANDESCENT BULBS

Electricity use is the main source of mercury emissions in the U.S., as coal-fired power plants send mercury into our air as pollution.  CFLs use significantly less electricity than incandescent
lights, meaning CFLs reduce the amount of mercury released into the environment through decreased power generation.  

And to what extent?  Well, a coal-fired power plant will emit 13.6 milligrams of mercury to produce the electricity required to use an incandescent light bulb, compared to 3.3 milligrams for a comparable CFL.  That's 10 milligrams of mercury emissions prevented through using a single CFL bulb. 

So by using CFLs, you're actually reducing mercury exposure by an amount far greater than the mercury found in the CFL itself.   

To learn more about how Environment Illinois is fighting to reduce your exposure to mercury from coal-fired power plants, be sure to check out our No More Mercury page.   

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For more information regarding CFLs and mercury content, check out the U.S. EPA's Frequently Asked Questions Regarding CFLs and Mercury fact sheet.