Heads up! If you're in a hurry to save money and stop electricity waste from incandescent light bulbs by switching to the energy efficient compact fluorescent lighting, think twice. 

Actually, don't even think of buying compact fluorescent light bulbs if you care about your health and the environment.  Compact fluorescent bulbs used for lighting across the nation contain mercury, a poisonous heavy silver-white metallic element that is liquid at room temperature, is one of the most neurotoxic substances known to human health.  This nerve toxin that can impair the way we see, hear, walk and talk. Mercury released from broken devices can vaporize, and contaminate the air in our homes.  If a single fluorescent bulb were to break in your home, you'll be exposed to dangerous levels of mercury vapor and require a hazmat cleanup which costs thousands of dollars.  Elevated blood mercury levels following acute inhalation exposure and skin absorption can lead to chest pains, autism, acelerated neurological degeneration, deformities in children, and interstitial pneumonitic leading to death.     

Mercury contaminates waterways and the air when mercury-loaded items are discarded in landfills, incinerators, and down the drain.  According to NewsTarget.com, a single fluorescent light bulb contains enough mercury to contaminate 6,000 gallons of fresh water.  Trashed items include batteries, pharmaceutical supplies, thermometers, vintage toys, gastrointestinal tubes, pressure gauages, entertainment systems, chemistry sets, and the dental amalgam in your mouth that outgases.  Why is this dangerous toxic chemical permitted in consumer products, especially an easily breakable product like a light bulb? Ask the EPA, the government agency responsible for protect human health and the environment.  On their homepage, it states: "Since 1970, EPA has been working for a cleaner, healthier environment for the American people."             

Thankfully, there's a mercury free light bulb that uses Light Emitting Diodes (LEDs) technology which mimics incandescent light bulbs but only uses 1/10th of the electricity of incandescent lighting, and are estimated to last 50,000 hours before burning out -- that works out to about 10 years of normal use.  This attractive eco led light bulb costs $39 to $99 on sale, works in standard light sockets worldwide (from 85 - 240 volts AC, covering most countries), includes a Certificate of CO2 Emissions Reduction, and are unconditionally guaranteed.    

The eco led bulb promises to become popular and standard environmentally friendly lighting when the manufacturer solves the heat problem since heat reduces the output and life of the bulb, thereby reducing the bulb's efficiency.  Also, the bulb delivers high brightness led light because LEDs are directional (ex. spot lights) so it doesn't work in all lighting situations because it can't be dimmed (ex. night light for reading).    

Still, this bulb is 10 times more energy efficient that an incandescant one and in no way toxic like compact fluorescent light bulbs.  You'll be better off healthwise and pocketwise when you properly dispose your mercury filled light bulbs and switch to eco-friendly lights instead.  Because of its extreme energy efficiency, the light reduces CO2 emissions by 3,570 pounds over its life, compared to a typical 40-watt light bulb and it also saves consumers $178.50 in electricity over its life, more than paying for itself in savings on the electric bill.