A few years ago, Compact Fluorescent Lamps (CFLs) were all the rage — touted as energy-saving heroes. But behind their glow is a dark secret.

CFL bulbs contain mercury, a toxic metal that can damage the brain, kidneys, and lungs if released into the environment. When a CFL breaks or is thrown in the regular trash, mercury can leak into the air, soil, or water, poisoning both humans and animals.

I never thought about this until my younger brother accidentally dropped a CFL bulb. My mom panicked, quickly opened the windows and carefully cleaned up, all while warning us not to go near. That incident made me curious — and worried. What happens when hundreds of these are tossed out every day without proper disposal?

That’s when we switched to LED bulbs. They’re safer, last longer, and use even less energy than CFLs. Plus, they don’t contain harmful mercury.

If you still have CFLs at home, don’t panic — just handle them carefully and recycle them through proper e-waste channels. And next time you need to buy a bulb, go for an LED. Sometimes, the brightest choice is also the wisest.