1. Q: Do household fluorescent lamps pose a health hazard?
A: As with any household product (cleaners, paints, etc.) care should be taken in handling. In this case, the biggest potential danger though, is broken glass.
2. Q: Are you promoting what is essentially an environmentally "unfriendly" practice by introducing a product that allows for a "full-range" of disposal options?
A: No, because ALTO fluorescent lamps ultimately reduce mercury in the waste stream.
3. Q: Don't you feel Philips should be providing recommendations on how to properly dispose of these lamps?
A: This is an evolving regulatory issue and current disposal methods are providing to our customers through normal distribution channels. In addition, Philips responds to inquiries on specific disposal issues through telephone or other communications. It is important to note that Philips continues to advocate recycling of fluorescent lamps by qualified third parties as one disposal option.
4. Q: How much does the nation spend on hazardous waste treatment and recycling of fluorescent lamps?
A: In general, the estimated cost to properly dispose of lamps falls into two categories, excluding transportation, which may be costly for hazardous waste handling:
1:) 25 cents per foot for hazardous waste disposal or $1 for a four-foot lamp
2:) 10 cents per foot for lamp recycling.
Approximately 500-550 million lamps are disposed of annually. There is no data though that currently exists to capture this method of disposal.
5. Q: What happens if the EPA changes its TCLP standards?
A: ALTO lamps meet the current standards. If the EPA alters the standard to become more stringent. ALTO lamps could revert to the status of other fluorescent lamps. However, under any set of regulations, ALTO lamps significantly contribute to mercury reduction.
6. Q: Will these lamps pass TCLP in every state.
A: TCLP is the federal regulation. While most states adopt the TCLP standard, there are some states that have more stringent regulations. In those states, ALTO lamps may not pass but would still significantly contribute to mercury reduction.
7. Q: How many years has Philips Lighting Company been testing ALTO lamps to see if they pass TCLP, and what are the pass/fail ratios?
A: Philips has conducted hundreds of tests over the past 4 years. The EPA establishes the test and the statistical guidelines. Independent testing laboratories confirm these results, using the EPA's TCLP protocol. The EPA's SW846 procedure for statistical analysis confirms the confidence interval is well within the required guidelines.
8. Q: Are you providing users any guarantees that the lamps will pass the TCLP at the end of lamp life?
A: After 4 years of testing, Philips stands behind their product. ALTO fluorescent lamps pass the EPA regulations.
9. Q: Has Philips truly created a new technology or is it just an upgrade of existing technology?
A: Yes, Phlips has created a new technological process. It is not a new light source. It is instead, a fluorescent light source that employs a new combination of an extremely precise dosage of mercury, with a chemical buffing system.
The reason other lamps have higher mercury levels is to compensate for mercury's loss of effectiveness caused by chemical and physical reactions.
Philips new technological process allows the mercury to maintain its effectiveness, so less is required.
10. Q: What is the mercury content of ALTO fluorescent lamps? What is the mercury content of your standard T-12 fluorescent?
A: In 1994, the industry average level for a 40-watt lamp was 22.8mg. ALTO lamps contain less than one third the industry average.
11. Q: What is the lowest level of mercury available in GE and Osram fluorescent lamps?
A: Until the feasibility of ALTO lamp technology was recently established, there was no requirement for competitive testing. As ALTO lamp research progressed, Philips has attempted to take measurements but no accurate calibration is possible. As a result, the best information we have is that the industry average for 1994 was 22.8mg for a four-foot lamp according to NEMA.
12. Q: How big is Philips share of this sector of the fluorescent market? What does it represent in dollar sales?
A: The fluorescent market is generally divided among the three largest manufacturers. Philips shares an even third of the market.
