A SURINAMESE SCIENTIST has suggested governments should legislate the use and disposal of mercury-filled light bulbs to prevent poisoning.
Dr Max Huisden, of the Anton de Kom University of Suriname, said the effects of mercury poisoning were not only global, but affected generations.
Small amounts of mercury can be found in each long and compact fluorescent light bulb and those bulbs, if improperly disposed, can break causing that mercury to be released into the environment. Mercury is also found in some laboratory chemicals, electrical and electronic devices.
Speaking in the wake of a United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) sponsored workshop on Challenges For The Caribbean: The Ozone Layer And Chemical And Waste Management for Caribbean journalists, Huisden said the use of, and subsequent disposal of, energy efficient light bulbs which contained mercury, could be a problem.
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