Nov 12 2009
Article Describes the Safety Concerns Surrounding Mercury in CFL Bulbs
Clear-Lite Holdings, Inc. (“ClearLite”) (OTCBB: CLRH), a leading innovator of eco-friendly, energy-saving “natural” lighting and the ArmorLite™ SAFETY ECO CFL™, A Safer CFL™, today announced that a Huffington Post article by science writer Kate Kelly about the safety concerns surrounding mercury in CFL bulbs featured ClearLite’s ArmorLite SAFETY ECO CFL, which will be in stores soon, because it has a safety coating that helps capture broken glass and mercury, if the bulb breaks.
The article, “’Green’ Light Bulbs Have Mercury: Who Knew?” reports on the growing mercury contamination concerns in the United States. “While the mercury content in each bulb is quite small, the content is high enough to merit warnings on the Environmental Protection Agency's website as to how to clean up an area if a homeowner accidentally breaks a bulb. Consumers are told to ventilate the room immediately, and that everyone should leave the room for 15 minutes to avoid breathing the mercury vapors. A vacuum should not be used in the area, and after broken pieces are picked up by hand or using a broom, the pieces should be sealed in a plastic bag.”
Kelly also noted, “As a result of this very real environmental risk factor, inventors are moving forward to create better solutions. Thomas J. Irvine's company, ClearLite, is introducing a new light bulb…” ... Irvine, president and CEO of the company, was determined to make a green product that was as safe as possible. "I didn't want my children exposed to a neurotoxin like mercury, so I didn't want other people's children exposed either."
“ClearLite's ArmorLite bulb has a protective silicon skin that helps encapsulate the mercury,” she added. “If the bulb is broken, the mercury vapor is not released into the air. Irvine's team also found that it was possible to use amalgam [an alloy of mercury with other metals in a solid form] …., which reduces the amount of mercury needed.”