ENVIRONMENTAL LEGAL BLOGS

The $2,000 broken light bulb

     Here's one to make you think a bit before going "green".  From the March 17, 2007 online edition of the Bangor (Maine) Daily News ("Broken light bulb sparks debate"):

Brandy Bridges was among the untold thousands of Mainers who liked the idea of saving both money and the environment. She installed more than two dozen compact fluorescent bulbs in her Prospect home.

But Bridges’ trust in the new technology literally shattered this week when a minor incident with a loose bulb turned into a major headache. A bulb she was trying to rethread tumbled from her hands and broke on the carpeted floor of her daughter’s bedroom.

Remembering lessons from shop class about fluorescent bulbs, Bridges began calling around for advice on the proper cleanup procedure.

"I was nervous. Something about this gave me a bad feeling," Bridges said in an interview.

She called The Home Depot, where she bought the bulb, and was referred to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, which eventually referred her to the DEP’s environmental response team. A specialist who responded found mercury readings more than six times the state’s acceptable level at the spot of the broken bulb.

Readings a few feet from the spot where the bulb broke were within safe levels.

The specialist referred Bridges to an environmental cleanup company. The estimated cost, according to Bridges, was about $2,000.

"Save 40 cents a month on your electric bill, but it will cost you two grand to clean up?" Bridges said.

     The article from the Bangor Daily News goes on to say that the State of Maine is adopting procedures to guide homeowners in cleaning up the mercury mess themselves without having to call on professional help.  However, reader "Ray" asks a disturbing question in a comment to the article at the URL link above:  "What if you are in the process of selling your home and have residual mercury in the carpet  from a broken energy saving bulb.. Do you have to disclose that problem to potential buyers?"

     Illustrating, once again, that there is no such thing as a lack of trade-offs in going "green".  You can save on your light bill and increase your risk of mercury exposure from a broken light bulb; you can accept the government's assurance that the risk is minimal and still face increased legal risk if you act on the government's assurance and don't disclose the mercury in your home sale documents; or you can disclose the supposedly minor problem in your home-sale documents and increase the risk that the sale will fall through (unless you'd like to give a $2,000 credit for hazmat cleanup). 

     Please consult your lawyer and toxicologist before changing that bulb!

CONCERNS ABOUT MERCURY/OTHER CONTAMINANTS CAUSING INFERTILITY

     There organizations mentioned in this press release seem to have a definite political agenda; but, then again, who doesn't?  So, for your consideration, please note the following in the press release

The National Infertility Association calls for more research, better testing and greater awareness of the impact of environmental toxins -- including exposure to cigarette smoke, alcohol, heavy metals, plastics, mercury, lead and agricultural pesticides -- on reproductive health, fertility and healthy pregnancy. RESOLVE, the leading patient organization representing the infertility community, joined with the Reproductive Health Technologies Project to co-host a briefing in Washington, DC today to call attention to increasing evidence that environmental contaminants are causing growing numbers of women and men to experience the disease of infertility.

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), the number of couples who report difficulty becoming pregnant or carrying a pregnancy to term has grown from 6.1 million in 1995 to 7.3 million in 2002. Recent data suggest that the fastest growing segment of the infertile community is women under the age of 25. It is known that exposure to environmental toxins are a direct threat to a healthy pregnancy and that in 10% of infertility cases, the causes cannot be explained on a clinical basis.

"There are many medical reasons why men and women have trouble conceiving, as well as the decision to start family building later in life. Yet, for many, the cause of infertility remains 'unexplained,'" said Joseph C. Isaacs, CAE, President and Chief Executive Officer, RESOLVE. "With the numbers of infertile growing, and particularly more women in their prime childbearing years experiencing infertility problems, many believe environmental contaminants are contributing to this alarming trend."

     Please go to the link above for the full press release.