Anyone who has Christmas lights has been issued a warning (Image: Getty)
A serious warning has been issued to anyone who has lights in their home this December.
It’s the time of year where homes up and down the country hang up strings of flashing, dazzling Christmas and fairy lights in their living rooms, on their trees and even across the outside of their house or in their gardens.
But although lights add a lovely festive cheer to every home, a serious warning has been issued to households over the consequences you face if you break them.
Though new LED lights are much, much cheaper to run than old incandescent bulbs, there is a hidden downside if you accidentally smash one.
:
It turns out, LED lights, while slashing your contain harmful chemicals which could cause real problems if inhaled.
As a result, if you accidentally break a Christmas light, particularly a red or white one, you must be extremely careful when cleaning it up.
Isabel Losardi, writing in her help book The Joyful Environmentalist, explains: “There is a warning that goes along with this – disposal. Red LEDs (those found in Christmas lights, car lights and brake lights) contain lead and white LEDs, while they contain less lead, also contain nickel, which is another hazardous waste.
“And so with both of these and with the old energy saving ones, if they break you should dispose of them carefully.
“Don’t breathe the fumes and treat the insides as hazardous waste. Not just something you can throw in your normal household recycling bin.”
Fortunately, she adds that the health risks which come with broken LED bulbs are worth it, as long as you’re disposing of them carefully, thanks to the savings they bring.
She added: “But having said that, LED light bulbs are designed to last for 25 years. Some of the better ones are even designed to last for a lifetime.
“So you shouldn’t have to change them too often.
“I’m hoping that I’ll inspire you to look at every single bulb you have in the house. And as each one needs replacing, slowly but surely you will replace them with LED bulbs that are geared to your circadian rhythms.
“Just never buy the incandescent bulbs (or the halogen bulbs – they are way too expensive and waste loads of energy too because of the heat loss).
“Hopefully you’ll be able to see how much money you are saving directly from your bills and you’ll also be doing your part, as a household, to take less energy from the grid.”