Mercury-containing Lamps

Jennifer R. Dolin, LEED APManager, Sustainability and Environmental AffairsOSRAM SYLVANIAjennifer.dolin@sylvania.com

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What is mercury?

• It can neither be created nor destroyed

• Mercury is a naturally occurring element

• Mercury has special properties that make it the perfect element for use in lighting

• When mercury is charged, it produces UV, which excites the phosphor in a lamp, causing the phosphor to emit visible light

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Brief science lesson on mercury-containing lamps

Lamp begins life with pure mercury

As lamp operates and ages, pure mercury is

“consumed”

»Combines with the glass

»Combines with the phosphor

»Combines with the deposits on the bulb wall around the filament

»Combines with any other impurities in the lamp

Amount not bound up is very small

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Why use mercury-containing lighting products?

1) Reduce energy consumption

2) Meet building codes

3) Reduce maintenance costs and lamp replacements due to longer life

4) Improve look and feel of indoor spaces

5) Address safety issues

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Types of mercury-containing lamps

1) Linear Fluorescent– Straight fluorescent tubes– U-shaped tubes– Circular tubes

2) Compact Fluorescent– Pin-based– Integrated ballasts (CFLi)

3) HID– Metal Halide– High pressure sodium– Mercury vapor

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Where are mercury-containing lamps made?

Fluorescent lamps– Three major manufacturers – GE, OSRAM SYLVANIA and Philips –

manufacture lamps for US market primarily in NAFTA some newer types manufactured in Europe

CFLs– Pin-based CFLs are made primarily in Europe and Asia– Virtually all CFLi are all made in China

• TCP is the leader in this market

HID lamps – Manufactured primarily in NAFTA, but some in Europe, Latin

America, and Asia

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Number of lamps sold in the U.S.

Linear Fluorescent - Approximately 600 million in 2007

- Available for recycling 4 to 6 years later (commercial lamps)

CFLi- ENERGY STAR estimates 290 million sold in 2007

- Available for recycling 7-10 years later

CFL pin-based

- Approximately 50-60 million

- Available for recycling 3-4 years later

HID - Approximately 38 million in 2007

- Availability for recycling varies widely with type and use

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How much mercury is in lamps?

Fluorescent– Manufacturers have reduced the amount of mercury in linear

fluorescents by over 90% over the past two decades

– Average mercury content is 8.3 mg based on last NEMA survey in 2004 (currently working on new survey)

CFLi– NEMA companies have committed to a maximum mercury content of

5 mg for CFLs up to 25W, and 6 mg for higher wattages

– Current average is 3 to 4 mg

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Amount of Mercury in Lamps 3.0- 4.0 mg

Mercury Dose

Manufacturer use recycled mercury in lamp manufacturing process

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National 5-year Mercury ContributionFluorescent Lamp vs. Incandescents

0

30.46

142.76

80

20

40

60

80

100

120

140

32W 4-ft T8 Incandescent 150 watt - equivalent lightoutput

Hg from power plant(5 years)

Mercury in lamp

Milligrams of mercury

• Lamp life – 20,000 hrs fluorescent, 750 hrs incandescent• Number of lamps = 1 fluorescent, 21 incandescent• Hg per lamp = average 8 mg fluorescent• Based on fossil fuel power generation and 12 hour per day usage• Emissions factors: U.S. EPA’s Emissions & Generation Resource

Integrated Database’s (eGRID) [1] State Data MS-Excel tables--

eGRID [1] 2007• State-Level Average All (Total) Generation Electricity Emission

Factors

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Mercury Contribution Over 5 YearsCompact Fluorescent Lamp vs. Incandescent

3.50

5.79

26.72

0

5

10

15

20

25

30

35

40

13W CFL 60W incandescent

Hg from power plant(5 yrs)

Mercury added

Milligrams of Mercury

• Lamp life = 8000 hrs for CFL, 1000 hrs for incandescent• Hours in use = 4 hours per day • Number of lamps = 1 CFL, 8 incandescents• Hg per CFL = 3 mg industry average• Emissions factors: U.S. EPA’s Emissions & Generation Resource Integrated Database’s (eGRID) [1] State Data MS-Excel tables-- eGRID [1] 2007• State-Level Average All (Total) Generation Electricity Emission Factors