Read here. (h/t: SPPI) This newest article lists multiple dangerous incidents involving CFL bulbs that should cause everyone to question whether they really want these items in their home - these light bulbs seem to be potential bombs waiting to wreak havoc. In addition, our earlier 'C3' posting linked to a German investigation that CFL bulbs emit toxic fumes that may be carcinogenic. The anecdotal evidence is mounting up against the CFL bulbs.
With what is now known, should American retailers ban the sale of these light bulbs until they can be absolutely proven to be safe?
""GE Helical 13 Watt light bulb. After only 6 months of use. This bulb started making funny noises and flickering... Finally, exploded on my kitchen table."..."My GE 20W Helical bulb in my 1/2 bathroom caught on fire on 5/3/10. The bulb snapped and glowed very brightly then caught on fire....The bulb was suppose to last 5 years but it was only about a year or so old. I tried replacing it with a GE 26W bulb and the same thing happened immediately."..."My 80 year old mother turned on her reading lamp and the bulb exploded and the lamp shade caught fire. She unpluged the lamp from the wall and the fire went out thank God."..."I had a desk lamp CFL burn up right in front of me. Switched it on and tiny sparks were emanating like a Van de Graaff generator. Quickly switched it off; the plastic around the ballast was cracked and smoking"...On February 23, 2011, TV NewsChannel 5 in Tennessee covered "a newly-released investigators' report that blames a February 12 fatal fire in Gallatin on one of those CFL bulbs.""
General Electric (GE) who intensely lobbied for Americans to be forced to use CFLs instead of traditional, health-safe incandescent needs to be held responsible for this consumer disaster, either by the Federal government or by tort lawyers. GE shareholders need to account for the damages done and potential future harm that is known to be likely coming from GE CFLs.
For those who subscribe to the concept of the precautionary principle, it would make the utmost sense for GE to announce a nationwide recall of these little, polluting light-bombs.