Gross mismanagement of CFL waste containing mercury, says study

Mercury enters body through skin or inhalation, and can lead to recurrent coughs, sore throat, shortness of breath, chest pain, nausea and headache

Massive amount of CFL waste get accumulated in and around cities, and those are mismanaged thus emitting poisonous mercury, says the latest report of Toxics Link, titled “The Dark End-CFL Need Better Management”.

The study states in 2014, the household CFL waste in Delhi accounted for 14.93 million pieces of CFL releasing 74.65 kg of mercury.

Mercury enters the body through skin or inhalation, and can lead to recurrent coughs, sore throat, shortness of breath, chest pain, nausea, increased blood pressure and headache.

According to the WHO, inhalation of mercury vapour leads to adverse effects on nervous, digestive and immune systems. Once into the environment it can turn into a deadlier form called methyl mercury, which is extremely harmful to humans and wildlife.

For human consumption, Food Safety and Standards (Contaminations, Toxins and Residues) Regulations, 2011, have set the limit of 0.5 ppm mercury content in fish and 1 ppm mercury content in other foods.

The survey, which was released here on Tuesday, was carried out in Delhi and Bhopal with the objective of conducting field-level investigation into the management practices of CFLs that contain mercury.

It used both qualitative and qualitative approach and surveyed two important stakeholders – consumers and recyclers – comprising household consumers, bulk consumers, kabadiwala, and recyclers who are important constituents in the Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB) guidelines for management of mercury-laded CFLs.

“The study found around 82 per cent of the consumers in Delhi dispose of broken CFLs in dustbins while the rest sell as glass scrap, as there are no authorised collection centres in the city. Even though the CPCB guidelines have emphasised use of Light Recycling Units (LRUS), most of the collection and recycling processes are carried out informally,’’ says the study.

Satish Sinha, associate director, Toxics Link, said, “Even six years after the CPCB laid down guidelines for management of mercury in florescent sector, nothing has changed on ground resulting in release of mercury into the environment. Currently there is no system in place in the country to recycle CFL lights. Hence there is a need for establishing a comprehensive system for environmentally sound management of CFLs.’’

The study also found informal recyclers washing CFL bulbs in boiling water to clean the white coating and throwing away the water containing mercury into open drains.

Piyush Mohapatra, senior programme coordinator, Toxics Link, said, “Many countries have set up systems for managing waste generated from CFLs in line with the principles of extended producers’ responsibility.”