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Shedding Light on Mercury in Fluorescents: A Workbook for Design Professionals

March 2004

Cameron S. Lory and Sarah O'Brien
(40 pp.,)

While fluorescent lighting is more energy-efficient than conventional incandescent lamps, it relies on mercury, a potent neurotoxin that can permanently poison the environment and cause irreversible damage to the human fetus, small children, and adults. This workbook provides building professionals with basic information on the mercury content of some of the principal types of architectural lighting, the environmental and health effects associated with the use and disposal of these products, available lower-mercury models and technologies, representative specifications that can be used by those wishing to purchase these "greener" alternatives, and other recommendations for reducing the environmental impact of mercury-added lamps and other building materials.

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