Why Mercury-Containing Lamps Are Dangerous
Mercury is an element that occurs naturally, though rarely, in the surface of the earth. Though a metal, mercury is a liquid at room temperature. It has many practical uses. Mercury has often been used in certain types of lightbulbs because of its ability to produce very bright light for long periods of time. It is important to note that legal parlance, the word "lamp" is typically used to denote what most people would describe as a lightbulb.