About Fluorescent Tubes and Mercury

There are estimated to be around 100 million fluorescent tubes and lights in use in the UK and around 70 million changed each year to enter the waste stream. Fluorescent light is produced by passing an electric current through mercury vapour to generate ultraviolet energy. A phophor coating inside the tube transforms this to visible light. A single four foot fluorescent tube contains around 23 milligrams of mercury, a toxic metal that can cause serious water pollution , and is readily taken up by fish, plants and crops causing bioaccumulation in foods in the human diet.

Direct exposure by inhalation of mercury (the vapour is readily absorbed) can cause serious damage to kidneys (damaging the filtration process), liver and lungs (causing breathlessness, coughs, chest pain and impairment of lung function). It can also accumulate in the brain and foetal tissues, and cause damage to the central nervous system (symptoms include tremors, decreased concentration, blurred vision and decreased nerve conduction).

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