Letter: Dim view of low energy light bulbs

THE EU has forced us to buy low-energy light bulbs and all incandescent bulbs will be banned from the end of 2011.

German scientists issued research papers which showed these low-energy bulbs contain cancer-causing chemicals. Councils across the UK are refusing to pick up these bulbs because they contain mercury. Even the government website warns that anyone breaking a low-energy bulb should leave the room and ventilate it, waiting for at least 15 minutes before clearing up.

This must be the first time that a safe product has been banned in favour of one that has an adverse health impact. Politicians no doubt feel this human misery is a reasonable price to pay so that they can boast to have saved the planet and several polar bears.

Clark Cross, Linlithgow