How Much Mercury Do CFLs Actually Contain?

October 5th, 2011, By Matthew Van Dusen

It’s a zombie myth that just won’t stay down: Yes Compact Flourescent Lamps contain toxic mercury. There is about as much truth to that statement as there is mercury in CFLS — which is to say, trace amounts. CFLs do contain mercury, but in quantities so small that breaking one exposes you, in most cases, to less mercury than eating tuna fish. 

Then they consulted the USEPA and contacted a lighting specialist from General Electric (their sponsor) in order to take on the issue of mercury in CFLs.

How does mercury help produce light in CFLs?  CFLs are glass tubes that are filled with argon gas and mercury vapor. When an electric current passes through the tube, the mercury emits ultraviolet light that excites a phosphor coating on the tube. The coating then emits light.
