Environment vs human impact

[mousme]

So it turns out that the mercury in those new-fangled lightbulbs is causing major health problems for the workers producing them.

I already knew that there were disposal issues with the bulbs because of the mercury content, but now there's an extra ethical dimension to it. I'm not sure which outweighs the other, or if I can even think of it in those terms.

Comments

Mercury In Ugly Bulbs - And Elgin, Illinois

[ankhorite.livejournal.com]

I've been resisting Savant's love affair with the CFLs because I hate the light they produce, and I hated the way the early ones took forever to light up. I really dislike their light and feel the same way about LED lights.

Elgin, Illinois. I lived near there, took the train there, nearly launched a $37 million development there (didn't go ahead with it, yay, long story) when I was working for a private residential development firm when I got hurt.

Elgin clocks? Does that ring any bells for you? And Elgin watches were particularly popular in WW II among the soldiers, because their numbers glowed. The numbers were painted on by women who would wipe their brushes on their tongues to get a better point for painting on such a minuscule scale.

Yes, eventually, they all died of radiation poisoning. The paint glowed for a reason.