222
E.P. Yanin and N.N. Moskalenko
2
Brief Characteristics of Luminescent Lamps
A luminescent lamp is a gas-discharge low-pressure lighting source, where ultraviolet discharge radiation (usually arc discharge) is transformed by luminophors
into visible radiation (light). A mercury lamp is the most widespread variety of
luminescent lamps (Fedorov 1969, 1992; Rokhlin 1991).
There are two types of mercury lamps - lamps with liquid mercury and
amalgam lamps. In the first case, liquid mercury is introduced into a lamp during
the process of vacuum lamp processing and evaporates while initiating a
discharge. In the second case, mercury amalgam substitutes for liquid mercury.
The lamp becomes more acceptable in production and exploitation thanks to the
lesser pressure of mercury vapour over the amalgam than over liquid mercury.
Nonetheless, the lamp does not become ecologically pure (Fedorov 1992).
Depending on the technology used and lamp type, lamps usually contain
20-300 mg of mercury (Kokinov et al. 1994); in widespread lamp types, 60120 mg (Fedorov 1992). In general, a lamp contains about 80 mg of mercury
(Avrukh 1994). Besides mercury, the lamps' spiral electrodes contain tungsten.
The composition of different luminophors includes cadmium, strontium,
beryllium, zinc, fluorine, barium, thallium, aluminium, rare earth elements,
manganese, tin, lead, silver, etc. (Fedorov 1969).
A large variety of mercury lamps are produced in the world. For example, the
list ofluminescent lamps produced in former USSR included more than 150 items.
Mercury and luminescent lamps are mainly used in industry, agriculture,
medicine, scientific research and in the home. They are used for the illumination
of streets, fiats, public and industrial premises, in medicine and health care, in
light-sensitive duplication, in searchlights and explosion-proofluminaires (mine
lighting). They are also used for decorative and advertising purposes (colour
lamps), at agricultural facilities (special lamps for cattle-breeding farms, for
poultry farming, plant selection, etc.), in electrography, etc. Some 50-80% of
luminous energy generated by electric power sources in developed industrial
countries is provided by luminescent lamps. So far, luminescent lamps are not
used on a wide scale in homes. Japan seems to be the only exception. In 1965 up to
80% of apartment houses were illuminated by these lamps, and at present Japan
produces three times more luminescent than filament lamps (Fedorov 1992).
3
Global Assessment of Production and Use of Luminescent
Lamps: Luminescent Lamps as a Source of Mercury Input
in the Environment
The total world production of luminescent lamps reaches 2 billion items a year
(Waymaus 1987). If we proceed from the assumption that one lamp contains
E.P. Yanin and N.N. Moskalenko
2
Brief Characteristics of Luminescent Lamps
A luminescent lamp is a gas-discharge low-pressure lighting source, where ultraviolet discharge radiation (usually arc discharge) is transformed by luminophors
into visible radiation (light). A mercury lamp is the most widespread variety of
luminescent lamps (Fedorov 1969, 1992; Rokhlin 1991).
There are two types of mercury lamps - lamps with liquid mercury and
amalgam lamps. In the first case, liquid mercury is introduced into a lamp during
the process of vacuum lamp processing and evaporates while initiating a
discharge. In the second case, mercury amalgam substitutes for liquid mercury.
The lamp becomes more acceptable in production and exploitation thanks to the
lesser pressure of mercury vapour over the amalgam than over liquid mercury.
Nonetheless, the lamp does not become ecologically pure (Fedorov 1992).
Depending on the technology used and lamp type, lamps usually contain
20-300 mg of mercury (Kokinov et al. 1994); in widespread lamp types, 60120 mg (Fedorov 1992). In general, a lamp contains about 80 mg of mercury
(Avrukh 1994). Besides mercury, the lamps' spiral electrodes contain tungsten.
The composition of different luminophors includes cadmium, strontium,
beryllium, zinc, fluorine, barium, thallium, aluminium, rare earth elements,
manganese, tin, lead, silver, etc. (Fedorov 1969).
A large variety of mercury lamps are produced in the world. For example, the
list ofluminescent lamps produced in former USSR included more than 150 items.
Mercury and luminescent lamps are mainly used in industry, agriculture,
medicine, scientific research and in the home. They are used for the illumination
of streets, fiats, public and industrial premises, in medicine and health care, in
light-sensitive duplication, in searchlights and explosion-proofluminaires (mine
lighting). They are also used for decorative and advertising purposes (colour
lamps), at agricultural facilities (special lamps for cattle-breeding farms, for
poultry farming, plant selection, etc.), in electrography, etc. Some 50-80% of
luminous energy generated by electric power sources in developed industrial
countries is provided by luminescent lamps. So far, luminescent lamps are not
used on a wide scale in homes. Japan seems to be the only exception. In 1965 up to
80% of apartment houses were illuminated by these lamps, and at present Japan
produces three times more luminescent than filament lamps (Fedorov 1992).
3
Global Assessment of Production and Use of Luminescent
Lamps: Luminescent Lamps as a Source of Mercury Input
in the Environment
The total world production of luminescent lamps reaches 2 billion items a year
(Waymaus 1987). If we proceed from the assumption that one lamp contains