Since two of those are old refs in relation to later models of compact fluorescents I asked someone who is up to date about the old mercury concerns because I know that problem was tackled some time ago, but not yet about the new work. Here is what he said to whether the mercury risk still exists: >pretty much no, plus there is much more mercury emitted from coal >fired plants in the difference in energy use over the life of a bulb >that they still would win even if all were broken Meanwhile, in terms of heat generation incandescents are still much worse for heat generation, so if people lose their a/c and need to keep things cooler to keep ferrets safe but have no choice but to use some artificial lighting... Sukie (not a vet) Recommended ferret health links: http://pets.groups.yahoo.com/group/ferrethealth/ http://ferrethealth.org/archive/ http://www.afip.org/ferrets/index.html http://www.miamiferret.org/ http://www.ferrethealth.msu.edu/ http://www.ferretcongress.org/ http://www.trifl.org/index.shtml http://homepage.mac.com/sukie/sukiesferretlinks.html all ferret topics: http://listserv.ferretmailinglist.org/archives/ferret-search.html "All hail the procrastinators for they shall rule the world tomorrow." (2010, Steve Crandall) On change for its own sake: "You can go really fast if you just jump off the cliff." (2010, Steve Crandall) [Posted in FML 7128]