Both lead and mercury are heavy metals that bioaccumulate and have an adverse effect on human health.  However, lead is widely used in many lighting manufacturing processes. We have been steadily and proactively working to reduce the use of both lead and mercury from our products and in our manufacturing operations.  For lead in particular:

• We pioneered the use of lead-free solders and welded lamp bases; in fact, many of our plants have eliminated lead soldering operations altogether.
  
  
• The Manchester, NH HID lamp plant eliminated a major lead wave solder operation, a process that consumed several thousand pounds of lead bars and 3,500 pounds of lead waste per year.
  
  
• We have eliminated lead solder in the majority of SYLVANIA general purpose incandescent A-19, B-10, BR30, BR40, and globe-shaped lamp products.  And most of our halogen lamp types are lead-free.
  
  
• We are using lead-free glass in high intensity discharge (HID) light sources and fluorescent tubes.
  
  
• Between 1996 and 2006, we eliminated the use of 1.4 million pounds of lead from our ECOLOGIC line of environmentally preferable products.
  
  
• In 2008, we will begin eliminating lead from our ballasts.