Mercury in Fluorescent Light Bulbs Poisons Factory Workers

[Guest guest]

http://www.naturalnews.com/026961_mercury_light_bulbs_hospital.html

 

Energy efficiency for the First World comes at a high cost for factory workers

in China, with high rates of mercury poisoning being reported among employees in

the plants that make compact fluorescent light bulbs.

In an effort to reign in global warming caused by excessive greenhouse gas

emissions, the European Union has passed a law mandating the phasing out of

incandescent light bulbs in favor of the more energy-efficient compact

fluorescents by 2012. This has contributed to a huge surge in demand for the

bulbs, and a corresponding upswing in manufacturing.

Unfortunately, fluorescent bulbs require mercury to start the chemical reaction

that produces the light. This mercury can pose a significant health hazard; the

British government advises that if a compact fluorescent bulb breaks, the room

should be evacuated for 15 minutes until the mercury vapors can disperse.

Mercury is a known neurotoxin that is particularly dangerous to children and

pregnant women.

According to a recent study by the Chinese health ministry, however, mercury

exposure is widespread among the workers making these bulbs. At one factory in

Jinzhou, 121 of 123 employees contained a dangerous body burden of mercury, with

one worker carrying 150 times the government-mandated threshold.. At a factory

in Anyang, 35 percent of workers had suffered from mercury poisoning and the

plant was dumping mercury directly into the local water supply.

Interviews conducted by the London Times turned up hundreds of cases of

dangerous mercury exposure and even hospitalization, but many workers are afraid

to complain for fear of losing their jobs.

" In tests, the mercury content in my blood and urine exceeded the standard, but

I was not sent to hospital because the managers said I was strong and the

mercury would be decontaminated by my immune system, " one young female worker

said.

The paper also turned up a case where 68 of 72 workers at one factory had

required hospitalization for mercury poisoning.

Sources for this story include: www.timesonline.co.uk.

Love, Gabby. :0)

http://stemcellforautism.blogspot.com/

http://www.facebook.com/gabby911

http://twitter.com/stemcell4autism

 

" I know of nobody who is purely Autistic or purely neurotypical. Even God had

some Autistic moments, which is why the planets all spin. " ~ Jerry Newport  

[Guest guest]

I broke one of these lightbulbs and my son and I were standing there looking

over it. I had no idea at the time, haven't bought one since I found out.

Can't believe they are so careless, using mercury in something that breaks so

easily.

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>

> http://www.naturalnews.com/026961_mercury_light_bulbs_hospital.html

>  

> Energy efficiency for the First World comes at a high cost for factory workers

in China, with high rates of mercury poisoning being reported among employees in

the plants that make compact fluorescent light bulbs.

>

> In an effort to reign in global warming caused by excessive greenhouse gas

emissions, the European Union has passed a law mandating the phasing out of

incandescent light bulbs in favor of the more energy-efficient compact

fluorescents by 2012. This has contributed to a huge surge in demand for the

bulbs, and a corresponding upswing in manufacturing.

>

> Unfortunately, fluorescent bulbs require mercury to start the chemical

reaction that produces the light. This mercury can pose a significant health

hazard; the British government advises that if a compact fluorescent bulb

breaks, the room should be evacuated for 15 minutes until the mercury vapors can

disperse.

>

> Mercury is a known neurotoxin that is particularly dangerous to children and

pregnant women.

>

> According to a recent study by the Chinese health ministry, however, mercury

exposure is widespread among the workers making these bulbs. At one factory in

Jinzhou, 121 of 123 employees contained a dangerous body burden of mercury, with

one worker carrying 150 times the government-mandated threshold.. At a factory

in Anyang, 35 percent of workers had suffered from mercury poisoning and the

plant was dumping mercury directly into the local water supply.

>

> Interviews conducted by the London Times turned up hundreds of cases of

dangerous mercury exposure and even hospitalization, but many workers are afraid

to complain for fear of losing their jobs.

>

> " In tests, the mercury content in my blood and urine exceeded the standard,

but I was not sent to hospital because the managers said I was strong and the

mercury would be decontaminated by my immune system, " one young female worker

said.

>

> The paper also turned up a case where 68 of 72 workers at one factory had

required hospitalization for mercury poisoning.

>

> Sources for this story include: www.timesonline.co.uk.

>

>

>

>

>

> Love, Gabby. :0)

> http://stemcellforautism.blogspot.com/

> http://www.facebook.com/gabby911

> http://twitter.com/stemcell4autism

>

>  

> " I know of nobody who is purely Autistic or purely neurotypical. Even God had

some Autistic moments, which is why the planets all spin. " ~ Jerry Newport  

>

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