Fluorescence vs. Incandesence

I've always had a problem spelling fluorescence....

Rush Limbaugh, of all people, had an interesting take on the incorporation of the new compact fluorescent bulbs (CFLs) over the old fashioned incandescent bulbs.

First, some physics:
The fluorescent light bulb operates on a two step process: 1) an electric field is run through a partial vacuum which contains some mercury and the excted electrons in the mercury atoms will change back and forth between high and low energy states and this energy released between the states is as photons in the UV range and 2) the UV light is run through a phosphor coating which undergoes optical fluorescence (or luminesence) where the UV will be absored by the phosphor and emitted at a lower wavelength which is now in the visible spectrum.
The efficiency of these CFLs is remarkable and the phosphors have been modified to give a more balanced specturm in the visible range.

The incandescent light bulb operates similar to a toaster. The bulb is a partial vacuum and an electric current is run through a filament in the bulb. This part of the filament that generates the light is very resistant to transferring electricity (i.e. has low conductivity). These are often tungsten but can be a range of metals or alloys. The heated filament now has electrons going up and down in their excited state and release the energy as photons - often in the IR to reddish range. These lights give a wonderful soft glow in a pleasant range of the visible spectrum, however most of the energy is lost as heat as opposed to light - very inefficient.

Now the point:
Rush, amid all the bile he spews, occasionally makes a good point. And his point regarding CFLs is this. Enviromentalists are all upset about the use of the incandescent bulb and think it should go the way of the dinosaur. Fair enough. Further, the environmentalists want to use CFLs to replace the incandescent bulb to promote energy efficiency. Sounds like a good plan.

However, CFLs do contain mercury. Not alot, but when you make 100 million bulbs then the amount becomes significant. Further, these bulbs are not made in America but primarily in China. Rush brought up the point - the environmentalists want Americans to replace all of their incandescent bulbs with CFLs but, in doing so, they will be faciliating the spread of mercury vaopr across America. Also, all those dollars will be going to China and what regulations will they have on safely handling the mercury that goes into the bulbs??? And how to recycle the mercury from the dead bulbs? Mercury is toxic to both the young and the old - particularly as vapor. Its effects are most pronounced in the nervous system which is the primary cause of death for long term exposure.

No easy answer here. Just a point to consider when buying bulbs.