Newsgroups: sci.electronics
Path: utzoo!henry
From: henry@utzoo.uucp (Henry Spencer)
Subject: Re: Zap, fry, and sizzle
Message-ID: <1990Feb22.162625.9526@utzoo.uucp>
Organization: U of Toronto Zoology
References: <799@gold.GVG.TEK.COM> <1990Feb22.021702.24662@cs.rochester.edu> <1990Feb22.033429.21504@ux1.cso.uiuc.edu>
Date: Thu, 22 Feb 90 16:26:25 GMT

In article <1990Feb22.033429.21504@ux1.cso.uiuc.edu> forbes@aries.scs.uiuc.edu (Jeff Forbes) writes:
>>[flourescents]
>>Be careful with these, they contain poisonous compounds of mercury in
>>the coating.
>
>The tube contains metallic mercury. The coating sometimes contains beryllium
>compounds, which are very toxic.

I believe they stopped using beryllium-based phosphors after some early bad
experiences taught everyone how toxic beryllium compounds are.  I'd still
be cautious, though...
-- 
"The N in NFS stands for Not, |     Henry Spencer at U of Toronto Zoology
or Need, or perhaps Nightmare"| uunet!attcan!utzoo!henry henry@zoo.toronto.edu