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| Also see : Environment, Trees, Trees : News Articles, Cleanliness : News Articles |
| Below are the News Articles / Stories pertaining to the Social Cause 'Environment'. To see our Resourse Section on 'Environment', please click here. |
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HT : Toxic warning on CFLs : Sept 28 ,2007 Toxic warning on CFLs Avishek G Dastidar New Delhi For the first time, the Compact Fluorescent Lamp (CFL) will carry a message that warns the user saying the lamp contains the toxic heavy metal, mercury and that it should be handled with care. The message, possibly in English and Hindi, will also explain the user in a nutshell how mercury can be harmful for the health and environment. It will also carry an advisory on how to safely dispose a fused lamp without causing any "green hazards". The CFLs, touted as the best weapon against rising power bills, contain a generous dose of mercury, a toxic metal that melts in room temperature, polluting the indoor air and when disposed in the open, makes its way to water bodies. Now, even as the Central Pollution Control Board works on preparing detailed guidelines to dispose CFLs, the manufacturers of these lamps have decided to voluntarily spread the environmental awareness by containing the detailed message through packaging. This is in addition to them working with government agencies in working out a CFL-disposal policy. "Our members, who are the makers of the CFLs in India, have in principle agreed to contain the message because to make the user aware of the toxicity is a step ahead in itself," said Shyam Sujan, general secretary of Electric Lamp and Component Manufacturers Association of India (Elcoma). Sujan was speaking to HT on the sidelines of a three-day international workshop on phasing out mercury, organised by NGO Toxics Link, starting on Thursday. "Next week the members will meet again to work out the final wordings or phrasing of the message. But the general consent has been arrived at," he said. Elcoma, which has all the heavyweights of lighting manufacturers as members, has also prepared a safe-disposal guideline for CFLs and tubes. "Our guidelines put the onus of health and environmental safety vis-à-vis disposal on government-certified recyclers," he said. A WORD OF CAUTION The CFLs contain a generous dose of mercury, a toxic metal that melts in room temperature. Mercury present in the bulb pollutes the indoor air and when disposed off in the open makes its way to water bodies in the region. Central Pollution Control Board and Component Manufacturers Association of India and the manufacturers have decided to spread the environmental awareness by containing the detailed message. Publication : HT; Section : Nation; Pg : 10; Date : 28/9/07 URL : http://epaper.hindustantimes.com/artMailDisp.aspx?article=28_09_2007_010_007&typ=0&pub=264 |
| Also see : Environment, Trees, Trees : News Articles, Cleanliness : News Articles |
