About 90% of CFLs sold in the U.S. are made in China, and some factories have come under scrutiny for exploiting workers and having an unsafe work environment. Policy Matters Ohio has found that in one factory the majority of the workers interviewed had no idea that they were using mercury and other hazardous materials, and did not know how to protect themselves against them.

In addition, the workers said that they could not read the signs indicating the hazardous materials that were posted on the wall, did not know that the character “gong”, another name for mercury, meant mercury, or had the signs explained to them. All of these workers are at risk of mercury poisoning due to lack of information about and protection against hazardous substances. Studies conducted among workers in factories indicate that workers’ levels exceed several indicators for mercury and other hazardous substances. Articles in China Occupational Medicine report rates of mercury poisoning in factories producing fluorescent bulbs ranging from 35 – 94%.