The Editor, Sir:

I write on a subject of great interest in current public debate, but from a different perspective.

Recently, I saw a cartoon which depicted some panic because an 'energy saving bulb' broke. At the time it was just a cartoon. However, in light of our current debate I decided to research the matter because cartoons quite often project humour around a serious topic.

The following is based on what I found on the Internet on a site maintained by the 'U.S. Environmental Protection Agency' and the 'U.S. Department of Energy'.

Necessary Precautions

The information on energy saving bulbs, called 'Compact Fluorescent Light Bulbs (CFLs)', reveals a serious side of the cartoon mentioned earlier. For example, if a bulb breaks, you should open a window and leave the room for 15 minutes or more, being careful not to walk through the broken material.

For cleaning up after the air has cleared, you should use rubber gloves and damp paper towels placing those (gloves and paper towels) after use in a sealed plastic bag which you put into another sealed plastic bag before discarding in an outdoor trash container.

All of this is necessary because fluorescent bulbs (compact and non-compact) contain a small amount of mercury.

I would, therefore, suggest that the ministry or ministries of Government responsible, should give urgent attention to the dissemination of information about Compact Fluorescent Bulbs for which suggestion, I hope, a strong enough case has been made.

I am, etc.,

BRUCE B. SWAPP

swappbcwjamaica.com

Kingston 6