Archived posting to the Leica Users Group, 2000/09/11
[Author Prev] [Author Next] [Thread Prev] [Thread Next] [Author Index] [Topic Index] [Home] [Search]From http://www.ehs.unr.edu/hazmat/fltubes.html "The average mercury content of a standard 4-foot, 1.5 inch diameter, cool white fluorescent lamp was reduced by 14% (48.2 mg/lamp to 41.6 mg/lamp), and is expected to further decrease from 41.6 mg/lamp to 27.0 mg/lamp by 1995." From http://www.afcee.brooks.af.mil/pro_act/fact/July97.htm "Mercury batteries have a zinc anode, mercuric oxide cathode, and an electrolyte of an aqueous solution of potassium hydroxide or sodium hydroxide. The cell has a solid cathode of mercuric oxide and contains 20 to 50 percent mercury or mercuric oxide, by weight." I can't find a number for the weight of a PX625, so I'd guesstimate at around 1 gram. That means it contains 200mg to 500mg of Hg, or roughly as much as 10 standard fluorescent tubes. But from http://es.epa.gov/techinfo/facts/lamps-fs.html " Industry estimates show that between 450 and 500 million fluorescent lamps are disposed of in the United States each year, dumping over 30,000 metric tons of mercury contaminated waste into the nation's landfills" Paul >-----Original Message----- >From: John Coan [mailto:jcoan@alumni.duke.edu] >Sent: Monday, September 11, 2000 4:16 PM >To: leica-users@mejac.palo-alto.ca.us >Subject: Re: [Leica] Mercury (Hg) Batteries and Minamata > > >William, >Do you happen to know what mercury compound is in fluorescent tubes? I >wonder how much is in one industrial size light, vs. one PX-625? >Anybody else? >John