NewsChannel5.com | Nashville News, Weather & SportsDisposal Of CFL Light Bulbs Not Environmentally Friendly

Disposal Of CFL Light Bulbs Not Environmentally Friendly

by Brent Frazier

GALLATIN, Tenn. - Only days after fire investigators named a CFL light bulb as the likely source of a fatal fire, a Vanderbilt researcher is expressing concerns about how the mercury-made bulbs will be disposed of properly, once the government mandates their use.

Michael Aschner, Ph.D., also a neurotoxicologist, has studied the metal mercury, and its effects, since 1979. He said the mercury, once the light bulb's cycle has ended, can be officially branded hazardous waste, and must be disposed of properly, according to State and Federal standards.

"If (the bulb's) in your house and it's plugged in and it burns, it's fine," Aschner told NewsChannel 5. "But once it burns out, it's considered hazardous waste."

Aschner was adamant that the government must teach American consumers the legal, and safe, method of disposing of the no-longer-usable, CFL, or compact (curly) fluorescent light, bulbs if the nation wishes to avert dangerous dumping of toxic metal runoff.

The dialogue comes amid a newly-released investigators' report that blames a February 12, fatal fire in Gallatin on one of those CFL bulbs.
Deadly Fire At Rehabilitation Center Was Accidental

That report by the Gallatin Fire Department cites such a faulty bulb, located on the back porch, outdoors, at the rehabilitative facility on Hartsville Pike as the likely cause of the mid-afternoon fire that took the life of Douglas Johnson, 45, a survivor of a traumatic brain injury, and residential client of that rehabilitative site, owned and operated by 21st Century Living Services.

Ben M. Rose, attorney with Cornelius & Collins, LLP, said, "Our client (21st Century) was pleased to learn yesterday that the Gallatin fire authorities concluded as part of their independent investigation that the fire was most likely caused by a CFL bulb.  This result is consistent with our own private investigation."

"It is our understanding that if, in fact, the fire was started by the light bulb, this is not an isolated incident.  We have heard reports of similar fires being initiated by CFLs across the country."

"If we can establish that this fire was caused by the light bulb, it is possible that the CFL manufacturer could be legally responsible for our client's losses as a result of the fire."

Email: bfrazier@newschannel5.com