Two years ago, in 2021, the Brazil indicated that it would commit to eliminating fluorescent lamps from the market by 2025. The decision took place during the fourth meeting of the Conference of the Parties (COP) to the Minamata Convention.
Although fluorescent lamps have emerged as a more economical and durable alternative to incandescents, they contain mercury in their composition, a highly toxic metal.
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With the aim of reducing environmental impacts and health risks, the country seeks to replace these lamps with more sustainable options, such as LED lamps.
LED lamps consume less energy, do not emit excessive heat and do not contain heavy metals, thus appearing as a safer and more efficient alternative for lighting.
Light bulbs containing mercury are toxic
According to biologist Alexandra Penedo de Pinho, from the Federal University of Rio de Janeiro (UFRJ), the mercury present in fluorescent lamps can cause several health problems in humans, such as ataxia, neuromotor problems and neurological.
Mercury is considered teratogenic, that is, it can affect the development of fetuses during pregnancy. Mercury toxicity is especially related to neurological damage and, in extreme cases, can lead to death.
According to the guidelines of the Brazilian Association for the Management of Reverse Logistics for Lighting Products (Reciclus), in the last six years, Brazil recorded the recycling of 33 million fluorescent lamps, the same as 5 million recycled lamps annually.
However, this number is still considerably lower than the total number of lamps that are placed on the market annually. In 2022 alone, 12 million fluorescent lamps were imported into the country.
According to Camilla Horizonte, operations manager at Reciclus, Brazil faces a major challenge with regard to raising people's awareness about waste that is harmful to the environment.
The specialist pointed out that the environment has already suffered the consequences of natural disasters and emphasizes that the inappropriate disposal of waste has significant impacts on the world.
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